Mainstream, Ocean Winds and Statkraft join forces on Utsira Nord wind project (Norway)

Mainstream Renewable Power (part of the Aker Horizons group), Ocean Winds (a 50:50 joint venture of EDP Renewables and Engie), and Norway's state-owned power utility Statkraft have set up a consortium to jointly bid for developing floating wind projects at the Utsira Nord license area in Norway in 2023. They have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aker Solutions to collaborate on offshore wind at Utsira Nord. Mainstream is already cooperating with Ocean Winds on two floating offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom and South Korea with a combined capacity of 3 GW. The group is also partnering with Statkraft on the development of bottom-fixed offshore wind in Norway.

In May 2022, the Norwegian government unveiled its plan for offshore wind, targeting 30 GW by 2040. The country has opened two offshore wind areas in the North Sea for the development of up to 4.5 GW of capacity: Utsira Nord (1.5 GW) and Sørlige Nordsjø II (3 GW). The areas of Utsira Nord will be allocated based on qualitative criteria, rather than through an auction. Sørlige Nordsjø II will be auctioned in two 1.5 GW phases, with the first auction expected in 2023.