Norway launches major wind power research center

[Resurgence]

Today the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, announced an investment of 120 million NOK (€11.3 million) in a new wind power research center in Norway. The NorthWind research center will be at the cutting edge, working on innovations to make wind power cheaper, more efficient, and more sustainable. One of the center’s main priorities will be offshore wind research.

“Rapid growth in offshore wind power internationally offers great opportunities for Norwegian businesses. Research and development is crucial to secure lower costs, less environmental impact and improved operating models for such projects. I believe a long-term research center with industry partners, the research community and the government will contribute to further development of offshore wind power in Norway,” said Tina Bru, Norway's Petroleum and Energy Minister.

Northwind will bring together over 50 partners from research institutions and industry all around the world. It will be led by the research institute SINTEF, with partners NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), NINA (The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), NGI (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) and UiO (University of Oslo).

"The Center's innovations will benefit Norwegian industry and the world at large,” said Alexandra Bech Gjørv, CEO of SINTEF. "Offshore wind has the potential to meet the world's electricity needs many times over and innovations cutting its costs will help bring this renewable energy to the market even faster."

The center will draw on Norwegian research and industry's long-standing expertise in offshore projects. "It will provide an important launching pad for students in the field aiming to become the experts of tomorrow", said the rector of NTNU, Anne Borg.

About NorthWind

NorthWind is financed by the Norwegian government through The Research Council of Norway. NorthWind is a Center for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) and will be in operation from 2020 to 2028. The Centers for Environment-friendly Energy Research carry out long-term research targeted towards renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and social science aspects of energy research.

Research partners:

SINTEF, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), NINA (The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), NGI (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) and UiO (University of Oslo).

International associated partners:

DTU, TNO, Fraunhofer, University of Strathclyde, NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and North China Electric Power University

Industry partners:

    4Subsea
    ABB
    Aker Offshore Wind
    Amon
    Aibel
    Baker Hughes
    Cognite
    DNV-GL
    Dr. Techn. Olav Olsen
    Dof Subsea Norway
    EDR Medeso
    Energi Norge
    Energy Innovation
    Equinor
    ESVAGT
    Finnmark Kraft
    Force Technology Norway
    Fred Olsen Renewables
    Fugro
    GFMS
    Hafslund Eco
    Havyard Design &Solutions
    Hitachi ABB Power Grids
    Impello
    Kongsberg Maritime
    Lundin Energy Norway
    Lloid's Register
    Nexans Norway
    NKT HV Cables
    National Oilwell Varco Norway
    NORWEP Norwegian Energy Partners
    Norconsult
    NorSea Group
    NORWEA
    Norwegian Offshore wind cluster
    RENERGY cluster
    SAP Norway
    Sogn og Fjordane Energi
    Statkraft
    Store Norske Spitsbergen Kullkompani
    Sval Energi
    Trønder Energi Kraft
    Vard Design
    Windcluster Norway



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