The Ministry of Energy in Norway has evaluated the two applications for project areas for floating offshore wind in Utsira Nord and confirmed that each applicant will receive an individual area. Both applications met the qualification requirements and provided satisfactory responses to the qualitative criteria. As a result, each group will be awarded one project area.
The areas will be allocated to:
- Equinor Utsira Nord and Vårgrønn Utsira Nord
Harald Hårfagre, a partnership between Deep Wind Offshore Norway and EDF Renouvelables International.
Once the areas are assigned, the companies may submit proposals for project-specific impact assessment programmes, carry out the assessments and apply for licences. Licence applications must be submitted within two years of approval of the programme.
Applicants that submit licence applications will also be eligible to take part in the competition for state aid. If both groups apply, support will go to the project requiring the least public funding. The maximum level of support is NOK 35 billion.
