NOWITECH Annual Report 2015

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Annual Report 2015 2 NOWITECH Norwegian Research Centre for Offshore Wind Technology
Offshore Wind: It is time for the next wave!
Offshore wind farms will be an important part of a future sustainable energy system.
IEA expects offshore wind to supply 5 % of the global electricity demand in 20501.
In Europe alone investments in offshore wind farms over the next ten years are
expected to sum up to NOK 1000 billion. This represents a golden opportunity for
development of new knowledge-based jobs.
The technology and market is still in an early phase with great potential for
development and cost reductions. Targets are set to reduce the levelized cost of
energy (LCoE) from offshore wind farms by 50
% within 20302. Strong research and development efforts are paramount
to reach such cost reduction. Offshore wind energy is prioritized in the
Norwegian research strategy Energi21 and in the European SET-plan.
Norway has an important role to play building on the research carried
out in NOWITECH and in other projects, and utilizing the expertise from
energy and maritime industries: Statoil is now taking the floating wind
turbine concept, Hywind, to the next step with a 30 MW pilot wind farm. DNV GL is leading in consulting and
certification services. Norwegian industry is competitive with supplies to the offshore wind market within
marine operations, substructures, power collection and transmission. Norwegian entities are also active in
European research projects. Still, there is very significant potential to increase the Norwegian engagement.
According to Eksportkreditt Norge a viable goal is that a 10 % share of the supply to new offshore wind farms in
Europe comes from Norwegian entities by 20203.
I very much support this goal; and I am convinced that continued
strong research together with the industry is vital to achieve this goal.
NOWITECH has proven a very effective spearhead for research,
providing international visibility and impact. A set of separate projects
could not have achieved this, thus with NOWITECH now being close to completion, it is time for new initiatives
to continue the required research for value creation, new jobs and bringing down the LCoE from new offshore
wind farms. NOWITECH has prepared 40 innovations. Now it is time for the next wave!
Director NOWITECH
John Olav Giæver Tande
Figure 1: Statoil is now taking the floating wind turbine concept, Hywind, to the next step with a 30 MW
pilot wind farm to be installed in Scotland in 2017. Ill: Statoil.
1 IEA Technology Roadmap (2013) 2DS scenario
2 European Wind Energy Technology Platform (TPwind), 2014, Strategic Research Agenda,
3
NOWITECH has proven a
very effective spearhead for
research, providing inter­
national visibility and impact.
NOWITECH has prepared 40
innovations. Now it is time for
the next wave!