New project to strengthen Norway’s role in offshore wind
ProWind aims to establish a unique national infrastructure for research dedicated to offshore wind. The project recently received funding from the Research Council of Norway.
“Offshore renewable energy plays a vital role in the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU and is central to the transition to net-zero emissions,” says NGI's Director of Geodata and Technology, Kristoffer Skjolden Skau. ( NGI)
The project aims to facilitate research, innovation, and sustainability in offshore wind foundation systems. ProWind will enable physical testing at various scales, from soil behaviour under varying loads at the element level (in the laboratory) to large-scale testing of new technology concepts and models (in the field). Additionally, the project will collect data on marine ecosystems' responses to installations on the seabed.
Received support from the Research Council
Earlier this fall, ProWind was supported by the Research Council of Norway. More than NOK 89 million in research funding has been applied for, and NGI hopes the final allocation will be as close to this amount as possible. The funding is important in establishing national collaborations within offshore wind foundation technology.
Kristoffer Skjolden Skau, Director of NGI’s market area Geodata and Technology, says the funding allows Norwegian institutions to develop technology that will give Norwegian companies a competitive advantage while solving complex challenges related to offshore wind projects. Physical testing is crucial for developing usable technology.
Skau emphasises that a significant portion of the funding will be invested in equipment.
Suction bucket foundations are fast, cost-effective, reliable and environmentally friendly foundations for the offshore wind industry.
Key role in the green transition
Renewable energy is crucial for achieving the EU’s ambitious goals for green transition. As Norway invests in offshore wind projects on the continental shelf, developing effective foundation and anchoring systems becomes increasingly important.
“Offshore renewable energy plays a vital role in the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU and is central to the transition to net-zero emissions,” says Skau.
By facilitating research on the challenges and uncertainties related to geotechnics and environmental impacts in offshore wind, ProWind can help ensure that new projects meet strict requirements for safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
“Such an initiative is also necessary for Norway to maintain its central position in offshore technology development—now focused on wind,” he explains.
NGI’s tradition of experimental research through model and field testing has been central to developing new foundation methods.
Solving critical challenges
The project will fill gaps in the current research infrastructure by establishing facilities that can offer multi-scale geotechnical model testing, simulate realistic loads on the seabed, and collect and make research data available from the Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre) outside Karmøy. The data from ProWind will provide valuable new insights into foundation technologies and their effects and could serve as a basis for future decision-making.
“ProWind aims to address urgent needs in offshore wind research, including simulating non-linear multidirectional loads and studying soil behaviour at both element and field levels,” Skau explains.
The project also contributes to promoting education and the recruitment of future workforces through collaboration with NTNU and OsloMet, while safeguarding the environment.
Will contribute to increased safety and cost-effectiveness
ProWind will significantly impact the development of offshore wind in Norway, both economically and environmentally. The research conducted within the infrastructure will reduce uncertainties and risks.
“The results from ProWind will contribute to increased safety and cost-effectiveness in offshore wind development while also strengthening Norway’s position as a global research hub,” he concludes.
ProWind will play a key role in Norway’s transition to a green and sustainable energy future by facilitating collaboration between research institutions and industry.
ProWind project partners
The ProWind project brings together expertise from six world-leading organizations and research centers, which will realize the national research platform for foundation technology in offshore wind. NGI, together with ProWind partners NTNU, OsloMet, NIVA, Akvaplan-niva, and the Marine Energy Test Centre (Norwegian Offshore Wind), brings specialized knowledge and resources critical to solving the complex challenges of offshore wind development.
This strong collaboration between academia, industry, and research institutions will be crucial in achieving ProWind’s ambitious goals.
