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Annual Report 2014
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NOWITECH
Norwegian Research Centre for Offshore Wind Technology
Offshore wind: We make it possible
Offshore wind energy represents a golden opportunity for development of
new knowledge-based jobs. The international market is huge and in strong
development. In Europe alone investments in the order of NOK 1000 billion for
construction of offshore wind farms are expected during the next ten years.
Offshore wind farms can replace fossil power generation and save CO
2
emissions
and will be an important part of a future sustainable energy system as a clean,
renewable energy source that can be developed and operated with minimal
negative environmental impacts.
Offshore wind energy costs more than land-based wind, but the technology and market are only in the initial
phase, and by 2030, the cost is assumed to be reduced to half of the current level.
*
Norway has an important role to play. Building on our expertise within the energy and petro-maritime
industries, we can develop solutions that provide reduced costs
for offshore wind energy, and thereby gain an increased rate of
deployment and speed up the phasing out of fossil energy sources.
This is a good and effective climate action that makes a difference.
It requires investments in R&D, but will be paid many times
through the creation of jobs and the export of goods and services.
The timing is ideal now with the oil and gas industry reducing its
activity and having free capacity to forward-looking focus areas.
The technology for offshore wind farms involves bottom-fixed or floating substructures with large wind
turbines generating electricity, substations and submarine cables for collecting and transporting the
electricity to shore, and systems for operation, control and maintenance of the installations. And it shall all
operate in the toughest conditions for twenty years or more.
It is one of the big engineering challenges of the century.
NOWITECH is proud to contribute in addressing this challenge with research and innovation for value creation
and reducing risks and costs. The potential is huge.
We make it possible.
Director NOWITECH
John Olav Giæver Tande
* European Wind Energy Technology Platform, 2014, Strategic Research Agenda
NOWITECH
It requires investments
in R&D, but will be paid
many times through
the creation of jobs and
the export of goods and
services.