In brief
Enova has awarded 3.94 billion Norwegian kroner (about $425 million) to Fortius Offshore Wind and Fram Wind Solutions for demonstration projects that will install 18.5‑megawatt floating turbines and generate 300 million kilowatt‑hours each year. The funding is aimed at reducing costs through testing foundations, mooring systems and construction methods, and is conditional on project implementation.
According to Xinhua, Norway’s state‑owned enterprise Enova announced on Friday that it has awarded 3.94 billion Norwegian kroner—roughly $425 million—to two floating offshore wind projects slated for the next five years in southwestern Norway.
The first recipient, Fortius Offshore Wind, will receive 2 billion kroner (about $216 million), while Fram Wind Solutions will be granted 1.94 billion kroner (about $209 million). Both companies plan to install two 18.5‑megawatt floating wind turbines each, for a total of four turbines at METCentre’s demonstration site off the coast of Karmoy.
With the four turbines, the projects are expected to generate a combined 300 million kilowatt‑hours annually—enough to power approximately 15,000 Norwegian households. The work will test floating foundations, mooring systems, and construction and operating methods that Enova has identified as key to cutting costs and improving the commercial viability of the technology.
Enova selected the two projects through a competitive process that evaluated electricity output relative to funding, potential for wider technological adoption, environmental impacts, and prospects for future cost reductions.
Enova Chief Executive Evy Glorstad said the funding could accelerate large‑scale renewable energy development, help Norwegian industry, and reduce transport emissions.
"Making the technology commercially viable could accelerate large-scale renewable energy development, help Norwegian industry, and reduce transport emissions,"she said in a statement for Xinhua.
The disbursement is conditional on the projects being implemented, Xinhua noted.
