Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power has entered into a partnership with Source Galileo and Odfjell Oceanwind for a floating offshore wind project at the Goliat platform off Hammerfest, Norway. The collaborative effort also involves Vår Energi, with the project set to contribute 320 gigawatt hours of renewable energy to the Hammerfest region upon its planned operation in 2027.
The GoliatVIND offshore wind park will be intricately connected to the Goliat platform, utilizing the existing power cable to shore. The primary objective of the project is to showcase floating offshore wind technology in Norway while addressing the growing need for electricity in the region through increased renewable energy production.
With everything in place for GoliatVIND, the project's design minimizes the need for major interventions on land. The electrification of the platform is expected to expedite the development of Norwegian supply chains and foster the growth of an export industry, laying the groundwork for more substantial floating offshore wind developments like Utsira Nord in 2030.
Gunnar Birkeland, CEO of Source Galileo Norge, expressed enthusiasm about Kansai joining the consortium, highlighting the company's operational expertise and financial strength as valuable assets to accelerate the growth of floating offshore wind in Norway. Kansai's role in the GoliatVIND consortium includes contributing expertise in interfaces, high-voltage systems, procurement, and financial planning.
Kansai Electric Power is already involved in the Utsira Nord application alongside Source Galileo, Odfjell Oceanwind, and Ingka Investments—the investment arm of IKEA. As part of the collaboration, Kansai will dispatch three engineers and one commercial specialist from Osaka to join Source Galileo Norway's head office in Haugesund.
Seigo Yagi, General Manager at Kansai, emphasized the strategic placement of the demonstration project to position the company with technical knowledge and experience that can be leveraged in the Japanese market. The collaboration aims to advance the GoliatVIND project and contribute to the successful realization of floating offshore wind initiatives.
