Conferences

“In a turbulent global energy landscape, where supply is dominated by countries scoring poorly on democratic indices, Norway’s stable, liberal democracy is becoming increasingly important for Europe’s energy security. Though Norway contributes only a small share of global oil and gas output, its role is disproportionately significant for Europe’s democratically aligned markets,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.

Equinor recently adjusted its strategy with fewer concrete renewables targets and higher ambitions for oil and gas production toward 2030 and 2035. When the company presented its long-term plan in 2024, the goals were described as bold and ambitious. Today, those ambitions are already met. Exploration results have accelerated the shift. Since 2023, Equinor has made 45 discoveries on the Norwegian shelf, expanding a resource base that has matured far faster than expected.

A key milestone approaches as Equinor prepares a final investment decision on Wisting, the largest undeveloped field on the shelf. The International Energy Agency has repeatedly emphasized that global gas production must increase in the coming years, a message that reinforces Norway’s responsibility not to leave energy supply solely to major autocracies.

“Activity is set to remain high. Equinor plans substantial investments in 2026, and the government has issued a record number of licenses. The anticipated decline appears further away than expected, and activity levels are likely to exceed earlier industry forecasts. This is crucial for Southern Norway’s supplier industry, which delivers technology and expertise for upgrades, modifications, and potential newbuilds,” says Mjåland.

At the same time, Norway faces a tightening power situation. In 2033, DNV expects Norway to import 5 TWh more electricity than it exports, meaning domestic production will fall short of demand. This poses serious challenges for industry and thousands of jobs.

Offshore wind was intended to help close the gap, but development has been slower than planned. The government’s upcoming North Sea wind deployment plan (Tempoplanen) will be decisive in determining which areas will be built out, and how quickly.

“The signals from Equinor point to a future where the Norwegian Continental Shelf remains central to Europe’s energy stability, while Norway simultaneously navigates a demanding transition in its domestic power system. Companies in our region will participate in sustaining the oil and gas industry, while building renewable industries that eventually will reduce our dependency on oil and gas,” says Mjåland.

“Agder holds world class composite expertise, and 3B Fibreglass already supplies fiber glass to 25 per cent of the global wind market. The real question is whether those strengths, combined with current and future market conditions, are enough to build a full turbine blade industry here. We are determined to find a clear answer,” says Project Manager Kristian Johnsen.

He heads a pre project that will examine the feasibility of establishing full scale production of wind turbine blades in the region. The project runs from June 2026 to April 2027 and has a budget of NOK 1.6 million, half of which is funded by Agder County.

The effort comes as offshore wind development in the North Sea accelerates dramatically. International targets under the Global Offshore Wind Alliance aim for 2,000 GW by 2050, while Norway plans to allocate 30 GW by 2040. As turbine sizes increase toward 25 MW and beyond, blade production capacity in Europe is becoming a bottleneck.

Agder believes it may have the right ingredients to help relieve that pressure. The region already hosts companies with advanced competence in composites, hydraulics, pneumatics, and glass fiber production.

“We also have a history of blade production, with Umoe Mandal manufacturing blades for a period,” says Johnsen.

Led by GCE NODE in collaboration with industry partners, Agder County, municipalities and the University of Agder, the project will analyze market needs, identify suitable industrial sites with access to renewable power and deep water ports, map the regional value chain and establish a cross sector consortium.

If the findings are positive, Agder could move toward a full scale blade factory capable of creating hundreds of jobs, strengthening regional diversification and contributing to Europe’s wind power supply chain resilience.

The initiative aligns with Regionplan Agder 2030 and supports the region’s ambitions for sustainable growth and green industrial development.

This was made obvious during the Oil to Wind seminar in Kristiansand Wednesday. Several companies that have made a partial or full transition, provided examples.

Espen Bostadløkken, Managing Director of Siemens Gamesa Norway, emphasized how Norway’s long-standing offshore engineering culture forms a natural bridge into wind. The company’s footprint in Europe is enormous: 33 GW installed, representing 5,400 offshore turbines, with another 22 GW under construction or contracted across Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Taiwan, the UK and the US.

“Scale matters! Large project pipelines drive cost reductions, industrial learning and supply-chain maturity, factors essential for making offshore wind competitive,” said Bostadløkken.

Siemens Gamesa is a pioneer in floating offshore wind, an area where Norway’s oil and gas heritage is particularly relevant. With 150 MW of floating capacity already deployed, the company holds the world’s largest track record. Floating wind requires deep-water engineering, mooring systems, heavy-lift operations and marine logistics, competencies Norway has refined for decades in petroleum.

“Offshore wind is not a break with the past, but rather an evolution of what Norway already does exceptionally well,” said Bostadløkken.

If Siemens Gamesa represents the global technology shift, Windport in Mandal shows how this transition plays out on the ground in Agder.

CEO Turid Storhaug presented facts from the recent 10 year special periodic survey of the Crossway Eagle jackup rig, originally built for oil and gas, but now contracted by offshore wind field developers. During a two-month project period, more than 60 companies were involved in the project at Windport, generating significant regional value. 43% of suppliers were from Kristiansand, 30% from Lindesnes.

Storhaug stressed that continued investment in port infrastructure depends on predictability. A stable home market and a clear plan for offshore wind projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf are essential for unlocking private capital and ensuring that ports like Windport can scale to meet European demand.

This was echoed by Kristian Johnsen, Project Manager of the regional collaboration project Fremtidens Havvind: “A predictable pipeline of new projects and the development of a Norwegian assembly port are our highest project priorities,” said Johnsen.

Added Arne Thomassen, Mayor of Agder County: “When the Norwegian tempo plan for offshore wind is presented, our region must stand together. We need to argue for an ambition for the Norwegian offshore wind industry, and the need for continued development of bottom-fixed fields south of Norway. We will also address the need for a Norwegian offshore wind port,” said Thomassen.

More than 70 people attended the Oil to Wind event hosted by GCE NODE, Fremtidens Havvind, NORWEP and Agder County.

Knut Mjåland opened the seminar with a big thank you to the people in attendance, many of whom have been central in the development of the world-leading supplier industry in Agder.

“You have not only created work for yourselves but also built a value chain that generates lot of jobs in our region. And you continue to innovate. For that, we are very thankful,” said Mjåland.