“I think we have begun to scratch the surface…”

In 2018, the University of Bergen launched the Bergen Offshore Wind Centre (BOW). BOW was formed to support the emerging offshore wind sector through facilitating and consolidating relevant research and educational efforts. It aims to “address aspects related to resources, environment and technical solutions, as well as the legal, economic and social aspects of offshore wind energy.”

Invest in Bergen sat down with BOW’s Director, Professor Finn Gunnar Nielsen, to discuss the centre’s work and the current state of Norway’s offshore wind sector.

Stay up to date
Sign up for Invest in Bergen’s newsletter

Invest in Bergen: “BOW was formed to contribute both research and education to the emerging offshore wind sector. How much headway has the centre made towards contributing knowledge and technical expertise?

Finn Gunnar Nielsen: “I believe we’ve made people aware of the kind of wind resources that we have, and of how little we know about the wind over the ocean. For example, when mentioning wind turbines, we’re talking about structures with a diameter of more than 200 meters. What do we know about wind structures or turbulence or wind gusts at 200-250 meters above the sea? Nobody’s ever measured that before. That’s important for designing wind turbines. So, we’re working towards understanding that.
Also, I think we’ve shown how we can use our previous activities in the oil and gas sector along the Norwegian continental shelf to map the seafloor, which will help when laying the foundations or moorings for these turbines.
So, I think we’ve begun to scratch the surface of this and show people that we not only need technology to succeed here but also social acceptance, environmental awareness, a suitable legal framework and so on.”

IiB: “You quoted a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which predicted that offshore wind will become “the most important electricity provider in Europe by 2040 and requires a major upscaling of the industry in the years to come”. Is Norway at a stage where it can contribute to this upscaling?”

FGN: “When it comes to countries with the highest potential for offshore wind energy, several publications have listed Norway as having the second-highest wind resources worldwide, second to Australia. So, if we are to produce just as much energy from offshore wind as we do from hydropower, we would need less than 1% of our economic area.
So, from that perspective, we haven’t even begun to use what we have in terms of offshore wind potential.”

IiB: “In addition to the technical and logistical elements, the centre also seeks to address some of the legal, economic and social aspects of offshore wind energy. How much of a factor will these things play in the long term?”

FGN: “I believe that these are key issues for us to explore, especially when you consider EU ambitions. If you’re going to massively upscale an industry, there will be a risk of conflict over resources, useable areas, harbours, industrial areas and so on. Handling these conflicts will require regulations and laws.
This is also relevant to the transmission of power across national borders. This will also require regulation if this is to work smoothly.
Regulations regarding financing these key offshore wind projects will also be needed. Will it only be the big multi-national companies that can afford this, or can we create a leasing system? Financing is another issue that regulations and laws can resolve.”

IiB: “In addition to BOW, Greater Bergen also has a collaborative ecosystem of research institutes, state organisations and private firms all working within this realm. Do you believe that Greater Bergen could become a key hub for offshore wind energy, both nationally and internationally?

FGN: “I believe we could. When the oil and gas industry took off in the 70s, Norway became renowned as an oil country. This shows that there is competence and interest in the industry that can attract companies, researchers, and consultants. I believe we can do the same for offshore wind as well.”

Learn more about the energy sector

IiB: “Greater Bergen will launch the “HavByen Bergen” project, intended to raise the region’s profile as a centre for the ocean industries. In your opinion, how will BOW and the emerging offshore wind industry contribute to this?

FGN: “What we want to do is contribute with education – for students, postdoctoral researchers and within continuing education programmes, take on important research topics to improve knowledge, and share our findings with local industry and decision-makers. “

IiB: “You recently met with the Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide to present the challenges and opportunities within offshore wind. What does this say about the potential for collaboration between academia, industry, and government?

FGN: “We had a very good discussion, where we focused on one key topic: knowledge. When any industry is transitioning, academia has to take an active role in cultivating education for students and continued education for people in said industry. At the same time, we should also be visible and available in the public arena so that when these discussions are had, they’re had on the basis of knowledge, and not assumptions. So, Minister Eide welcomed and encouraged us to be more active in public debate and presenting facts.
Also, there will be more need for consultants who can provide more information and counselling. So, between the industries and universities, we will also need the research institutes to provide these consultants. Again, this will require cooperation and knowledge-sharing.”

Are you interested in setting up a new company in the Greater Bergen region? If so, you could receive crucial support from Invest in Bergen.

Our organisation can provide information, introductions to useful contacts, and even help you to find your ideal business location in Greater Bergen. If you’re interested in these services, simply get in touch with us today.