Norway’s energy regulator NVE has approved plans by Georgine Wind, a subsidiary of General Electric, to install an 18-megawatt wind turbine in the municipality of Gulen as part of a pilot programme aimed at advancing offshore wind technology.
The turbine, the largest ever authorised in Norway, will have a rotor diameter of up to 250 metres and a maximum tip height of 275 metres. Located in an existing industrial area in Slovag, the project is expected to generate approximately 55 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually—enough to supply around 2,750 Norwegian households.
“This is the largest wind turbine ever approved in Norway,” said Ann Myhrer Ostenby, section head at NVE. “It is also the first to be licensed inside an existing industrial area.”
The turbine will undergo a five-year testing phase before transitioning to standard commercial operation for an additional 25 years.
“The testing and operation of this turbine can contribute to increased knowledge about offshore wind technology,” Ostenby added.
NVE noted that placing the turbine within an established industrial zone helps minimise environmental impact, though it acknowledged the importance of ensuring the project coexists with other industrial activities in the area.
The municipality of Gulen has expressed its support for the initiative.
Georgine Wind is required to implement a series of mitigation measures to reduce potential environmental effects, including noise monitoring and post-construction surveys focused on bird and bat populations.
“If impacts exceed expectations, additional measures must be implemented to reduce disturbance to nature and neighbours,” said Ostenby.
Before construction begins, Georgine Wind must submit a detailed development and operations plan, which will be subject to oversight by NVE through inspections during and after construction.
