Deep Wind Offshore, the Norwegian Independent Power Producer (IPP), and EDF Renewables, subsidiary dedicated to offshore and onshore wind and solar energies of French EDF group, have partnered up to bid for, develop, construct and operate offshore wind projects in Norway. The 50/50 joint venture will submit applications to the Norwegian authorities for the development of two commercial-scale offshore wind farms in the opened areas, Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II.
Deep Wind Offshore and EDF Renewables combine extensive experience from offshore and maritime sectors, Norwegian power production and international experience in developing and operating large scale offshore wind projects. EDF Renewables is a leading developer and operator of both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind, and Deep Wind Offshore’s owners have a portfolio of hydropower-projects in Norway.
Knut Vassbotn, CEO of Deep Wind Offshore, said: “EDF Renewables is the ideal partner providing experience and capability to develop and build the projects in Norway. Having now worked with EDF Renewables for several months, we have found that we share the same overall goals for the offshore wind industry: develop new projects at scale to reduce cost, create opportunities for local supply chain and provide more renewable energy to Norway and Europe. Energy projects at scale offer opportunities to local communities, but projects must be planned, developed, built and operated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The good dialogue and relationship that we have with fishermen, both locally and nationally and their organizations, is certainly something that we intend to keep up and build upon for both Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II.”.
Frédéric Belloy, Executive Vice President, International Operations at EDF Renewables, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering up with Deep Wind Offshore in Norway. We are a world-leading company in low carbon energy with a significant growth ambition in renewables, and excited about the opportunity offshore wind brings in Norway. To have Deep Wind Offshore as a partner on the Norwegian shelf, will strengthen the offering and put us in a strong position to secure exclusivity on the announced areas. Based upon our significant experience in offshore wind, we are at the forefront of technology-development to deploy in particular floating offshore wind projects”.
Vassbotn further stated: “Utsira Nord is ideally located outside our head office, and we are convinced that we can develop a sustainable and cost-effective project that will deliver energy to a region in need of more power and jobs in the supply-chain. With excellent wind speeds and waters ideally suited for floating offshore wind, I certainly believe that Norway is ready to move into deploying floating wind at commercial scale.”
Green Giraffe acted as financial advisor to Deep Wind Offshore in the process.
About Deep Wind Offshore:
Deep Wind Offshore is a developer and owner of offshore wind parks in Norway and internationally, with strong backing from industrial owners from the maritime/offshore and utility sectors. The company is owned by Knutsen OAS, Haugaland Kraft and Sunnhordland Kraftlag (SKL). Deep Wind Offshore's head office is located in Haugesund, Norway and has 20+ employees. For more information, visit: www.deepwindoffshore.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
About EDF Renewables:
EDF Renewables is a leading international player in renewable energies, with gross installed capacity of 13.8 GW worldwide. Its development is mainly focused on wind and solar photovoltaic power. EDF Renewables operates mostly in Europe and North America but is continuing to grow by moving into promising emerging regions such as Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the Middle East. The company has strong positions in offshore wind power, but also in other areas of the renewable energies industry such as energy storage. EDF Renewables develops, builds, operates and maintains renewable energies projects, both for itself and for third parties. EDF Renewables is the EDF Group subsidiary specialising in developing solar and wind power. For more information, visit: www.edf-renewables.com
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