Norway's Ministry of Energy has approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) programme for Goliatvind's 75 MW floating offshore wind pilot, advancing a project aimed at reducing technical risks and establishing Norwegian supplier capacity for floating wind energy. Goliatvind plans to submit a full licence application for the project within the coming weeks.
The pilot will feature five 15 MW turbines, each mounted on Odfjell Oceanwind's Deepsea Star semi-submersible floating foundation, designed to position the turbine centrally for stability. Construction of the demonstrator is expected in 2028 or 2029, setting the stage for larger floating wind projects in Norway's Utsira Nord and Vestavind B areas.
“As a demonstration plant, GoliatVIND will help establish Norwegian supplier capacity and reduce the technical risk of floating offshore wind in Norway,” said Gunnar Birkeland, CEO of Source Galileo Norge and chair of Goliatvind. This effort is seen as pivotal in maintaining Norway's competitive position in the offshore wind sector, especially with other countries advancing similar projects.
The project is backed by Odfjell Oceanwind, Source Galileo, Kansai Electric Power, and Eneos Renewable Energy. The EIA proposal for Goliatvind, submitted last November and circulated for consultation, received 31 responses from stakeholders. The project's EIA work began in September 2023 in parallel with the Ministry's review to maintain momentum toward its planned construction timeline.
