Wind power, Offshore wind | Nobody wants onshore wind power: Norwegians are now being asked about offshore wind

This week, Norway’s first offshore wind auction took place, and Belgian-Dutch company Ventyr has had the honor of kicking off what the government has dubbed an offshore wind adventure.

With the victory comes subsidies of up to . The state will guarantee the developer an electricity price of before VAT.

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In the past, Nettavisen has documented fierce opposition to onshore wind power, even though this is the fastest way to more of the much-demanded power. A new survey suggests that it is primarily due to the “not in my neighborhood” factor, because the attitude to offshore wind is quite different.

Can cut the electricity price significantly

Europower reports that the development brings a significant upside for electricity customers:

– In a new analysis that Volt Power Analytics is behind, the analysts calculate that the electricity price will fall on average by approximately 10 øre/kWh in NO2, writes the industry website.

In Eastern Norway and Western Norway, the effect is estimated to be 7–8 øre – or closer to 10 øre when VAT is added.

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Blowing away 23 billion

High support in the population

The development of wind power in Norway is extremely controversial, but a new survey from the interest organization Fornybar Norge shows that people do not have the same feelings when the wind turbines are moved offshore.

On the question “Norway should invest in offshore wind power development, even if it will require state subsidies in an initial phase”, the vast majority are positive.

The survey shows that there are very small differences between the sexes.

Renewable Norway has also asked if people think it will “provide great opportunities for the Norwegian supplier industry”, which is an even greater endorsement.

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– Necessary for lower electricity prices

Renewable Norway CEO Åslaug Haga is not surprisingly very satisfied with the results of the survey:

– Most people have realized that more power is needed for lower electricity prices, climate measures and new jobs. Offshore wind will be an important contribution to the transformation of Norway.

She firmly believes that the industry will become profitable, even though the need for subsidies is currently enormous:

– The fact that several players joined the auction shows that the business world has faith in offshore wind. In the long term, this will become a profitable industry without the need for subsidies, as we have seen for solar and wind power on land, she says.

It is known that, in addition to Ventyr, Equinor was involved in the bidding round, which lasted just over two days. Statkraft and Lyse never submitted bids. Instead, they aim for flowing sea breezes.

– Now we have to get started quickly with the tender for Utsira Nord and new fields along the Norwegian coast. The oil tax package has given the supplier industry many jobs, but from 2026 this will decrease significantly. It will then be important to give the industry new tasks within offshore wind.