A new and exciting chapter in Norwegian energy history is beginning. “Dina Polaris” in Tananger is being prepared to play a pivotal role in what could become a very important industry for the country.
“We are, of course, proud! This is the first major mobilization towards the development of Norway’s first offshore wind farm, and it’s happening right here, with us. The project is historic, and we at NorSea were involved from the beginning. Together with talented partners, we won the contract with the Norwegian authorities – and now the vessel is here, ready to collect data on where the nearly 100 turbines will be placed in the southern North Sea. It’s a major milestone,” says John E. Stangeland, CEO of NorSea Group.
The ship you see in the picture, “Dina Polaris,” will soon head to the North Sea, right on the border between Norway and Denmark, to conduct geotechnical surveys at the site known as Sørlige Nordsjø II.
“It’s the first visual and physical symbol that the offshore wind development in Norway is now beginning. The authorities and Norwegian industry have been working towards this for many, many years, and now we are taking the first practical steps. It’s a significant step!” says Anne K. Knausgård, Country Manager for Parkwind in Norway.
The country’s first offshore wind project will be located 200 kilometers off the coast of Agder. The developer is Ventyr, a company owned by Belgian Parkwind and Dutch Ingka (the owner of IKEA) with NorSea as an industrial partner.
The average water depth in the area is about 60 meters. A wind farm here will consist of fixed-bottom turbines. To ensure that the turbines are placed on firm, solid ground, geotechnical studies must first be conducted. This is where “Dina Polaris” comes in. Recently, the ship has been prepared for approximately two months of work in the North Sea. The preparations are taking place at NorSea’s facility at Tananger Harbor. The first phase of Sørlige Nordsjø II will be built with 80-100 turbines, providing a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. The estimated power production is 7–8 TWh per year, equivalent to 5-6 percent of Norway’s total power production.