“Our offshore wind portfolio is constantly growing,” says Rune Reinertsen, Sales and Marketing Director at Origo Solutions. The company is a long-standing supplier of control systems to European offshore wind farms, including Doggerbank and Hywind Scotland.
“10 to 15 of our employees work exclusively within the offshore wind industry. We expect that number to increase,” says Reinertsen.
Origo Solutions is one of several enterprises in the GCE NODE cluster that is deeply invested and successful in the growing offshore renewable energy sector. Equinor is of course a leading operator of offshore wind farms to which companies such as MacGregor, SLB, NOV and others are suppliers. Firenor signed a NOK 500 million agreement last August to provide fire safety systems to Petrofac.
NOK 50 BILLION IN EXPORTS
“In 2025, Norwegian companies are expected to bring home NOK 50 billion in revenues from the global offshore wind industry. This is a huge and ongoing business, which is not dependent on the opening of a home market – although we are applauding the upcoming utilization of the wind resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf,” says Knut Mjåland, CEO of GCE NODE.
This week, he was part of a large Norwegian and Agder delegation to WindEurope Copenhagen. Gathering more than 15,000 industry people, the event is Europe’s largest wind expo and conference.
In attendance was also a group of Agder politicians and officials, among them Mathias Bernander, Mayor of Kristiansand.
“We often talk about offshore wind as a thing of the future, but it has already been ongoing for years. As demonstrated here in Copenhagen – by companies from Southern Norway – offshore wind represents jobs, technology development and value creation which is important to Kristiansand as a city and to Agder as a region,” says Bernander.
“Offshore wind is more than large turbines at sea. Agder companies deliver technologies that are vital to the industry. Our ambition is to build on the strong position of our supplier industry, to make our region the natural hub for the Norwegian offshore wind industry,” says Bernander.
GENERATING LOTS OF JOBS
Arne Thomassen, Mayor of Agder County, agrees.
“Offshore wind generates a lot of jobs in Agder. It is important to understand this and to back our growing industry. As the home market opens, we are supporting initiatives to develop ports in Agder that can assemble giant wind turbines. We expect the government to form a clear and predictable strategy, enabling companies to make the investments necessary to succeed,” says Thomassen.
“Norwegian ports are more than fishing ports. We need to recognize that they are also important for various industries and a vital for Norwegian emergency preparedness,” says Thomassen.
COMPETENT WORKFORCE
Gro Bråten, Labour Party presentative at Agder County, found is exhilarating to witness the success of the Agder companies in offshore wind.
“They are creating a great number of jobs and major export revenues for Norway. It is important for me to support this industry and its workers. Agder is the Norwegian region that is closest to the rest of the world, and it is fantastic that we have such competent companies within offshore wind,” says Bråten.
Ingrid Williamsen, Mayor of Farsund, was impressed by the sheer size of the industry which was displayed in Copenhagen.
“Knowing that Norwegian companies generate revenues of NOK 50 billion proves that our industry is agile and competent, and I believe we will do even better going forward. I would also like to commend Turid Storhaug and WindPort for securing strategic partners in their efforts to build a marshalling port in Lindesnes. The work they have done is terrific,” says Williamsen.
