The Anonymous Widower

Norway Drops Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Plans, Shifts Focus To Floating Wind

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

The Norwegian government has cancelled plans for another fixed-bottom offshore wind tender in the North Sea due to cost concerns, shifting its focus toward developing floating offshore wind projects.

As cost concerns are mentioned in the sub-heading, I suspect that quite a few people are surprised that floating wind is cheaper with all its complications.

But we do know the following.

• Floating wind farms seem to generate  electricity with a higher capacity factor.
• Floating wind farms may be cheaper to assemble and service, as this can be carried out in a port with a crane, which may be less susceptible to random disturbance caused by weather.
• Floating wind farms can be placed in deeper waters, which may be better areas for electricity generation.
• Floating wind farms can be placed further out to sea, so Nimbys don’t object to them as much, causing extra costs.

Accountants and financiers will always prefer lower-cost options.

February 11, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Finance | Floating Wind Power, Norway, Wind Power