Norwegian offshore wind boosted by Japan

Kansai joins the GoliatVIND consortium along with existing partners, Source Galileo, Odjfell Oceanwind and Vår Energi.

The project aims to add 320GWh of renewable energy from turbines at the Goliat platform outside Hammerfest, demonstrating the viability of floating offshore wind.

“This demonstration project is ideally placed to position Kansai to bring the technical knowledge and experiences obtained back to the Japanese market,” said Seigo Yagi, general manager of Kansai.

“We are excited to further develop our collaboration with Source Galileo and Odfjell Oceanwind and look forward to working together at GoliatVIND to make the project possible.”

Slated to begin operation in 2027, the offshore wind park be connected to the Goliat platform using the existing 110 kV power cable to shore. Currently there are plans for five floating wind turbines of 15 MW each situated five to 11 kilometres from the platform.

Kansai will bring its expertise in interfaces and high-voltage systems together with its procurement and financial planning and has despatched three engineers and one commercial specialist to join the team in Haugesund.

The project aims to demonstrate that the technology can be standardised and used almost anywhere in the world, not least in Japan.

“The reason why GoliatVIND is so important is the potential to export the technology internationally,” explained Per Lund, chief executive of Odfjell Oceanwind.

“We are most familiar with bottom-fixed offshore wind from the UK and Germany in particular, but estimates show that only 20 per cent of the world’s exploitable offshore wind resources are suitable for this technology.

“This means that 80 per cent requires floating offshore wind.”