A new Danish-Norwegian partnership will play a role in making offshore wind farms better and cheaper. Wednesday, the rectors of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) as well as chief executive of independent applied research institute SINTEF signed a new agreement. This marks the beginning of the joint research facility Nordic Offshore wind R&I Centre, forms university media DTU Vindenergi.

"For many years, we have had strong research collaboration with NTNU and SINTEF. With this cooperation agreement in offshore wind, we are now establishing a powerful partnership that will be able to deliver research and innovation of the highest quality for the benefit of business and society," says Anders O. Bjarklev, President at DTU.

The Nordic cooperation is relatively well-established within the subject of offshore wind energy and will focus on foundations, grid connection, energy storage and digitalization.

While the offshore wind energy sector in Denmark has historically been further advanced than in Norway, Norway has intensified its interest in the field in recent years – not least of all due to the potential of floating offshore wind. Unlike fixed-foundations offshore wind, the floating variety shares many similarities with the offshore oil industry, a sector Norway has led for decades.

"When we further reinforce the connection between DTU's significant knowledge of wind energy with our Norwegian top mission systems and support for the marine industry, we will be able to contribute significantly to achieving this in cooperation with the industry," says SINTEF CEO Alexandra Bech Gjørv in the statement.

English Edit: Daniel Frank Christensen

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