Yet another alliance has entered the race to develop offshore wind in Norwegian waters. This time involves domestic developer Norsea and Belgian Parkwind teaming up to apply for licenses to develop offshore wind facilities on the country's continental shelf.

"Success in offshore wind is a team effort. Together with our Norwegian partners, we are able to offer a competitive value proposition by matching local expertise with over a decade of offshore wind experience," writes Parkwind co-Chief Executive Francois Van Leeuw in a statement.

Beyond these two companies, Norsea majority shareholder the Wilhelmsen group will be active contributor to the alliance.

With Parkwind on board, the partnership says it gains the advantage of experience in operating offshore wind in the European market, while Norsea's Norwegian sector know-how will also be a driving force.

"Our project will be run through a Norwegian company with headquarters and operations based in the Stavanger-region. We will benefit from Norsea’s 55 years of experience in the Norwegian offshore industry, as well as our valuable insights from other wind ventures both in the Norsea group and Parkwind’s extensive portfolio," says John E. Stangeland, CEO of Norsea, in the media release.

The two companies have not disclosed whether they intend to develop fixed-bottom or floating offshore wind, nor have the groups clarified whether the applications pertain to Norway's recently solicited areas Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord, although these two are highly probable candidates to this end.

After the Norwegian government announced offshore wind projects totaling 4.5 GW in those two areas last summer, several companies in the energy sector have flagged their interest in getting piece of the nation's wind-at-sea build-out.

Floating wind is the only viable technology for deployment at Utsira Nord, while fixed-bottom turbines are the lost likely option for Sørlige Nordsø II, according to Norwegian authorities' site assessments.

English Edit. Daniel Frank Christensen

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