RES Unveils Plans for Wind Projects Offshore Norway and Australia

June 14, 2023, by Adnan Memija

RES has announced that it is expanding its offshore wind development in two new markets, namely Australia and Norway.

Offshore wind turbines — Illustration; Source: Ailes Marines

RES has commenced development activities in two new offshore wind markets: Norway and Australia.

The UK-headquartered company said it will combine its local knowledge and skills with global offshore experiences to focus on supporting the growth of the industry locally in these markets.

“Our focus is on how we can help build the local industries in both Australia and Norway to capitalise on the growth in the offshore wind sector, by supporting local production/fabrication and employment opportunities as we know these are the elements that will foster success,” said Rob Fradley, Offshore Commercial Director for RES.

In Norway, RES and Zephyr AS have established a new consortium, SIRAVIND, to bid for one of the three areas in the Utsira Nord offshore wind tender process.

The area under consideration will utilise floating wind technology and deliver approximately 500 MW.

The tender was announced by The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in March. Applications for leases are scheduled to be submitted by early September, with awards expected in December.

The three areas at Utsira Nord have a total installed capacity of 1.5 GW and plan to be operational by 2030, supporting the Norwegian Government’s target of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2040.

RES is also exploring a number of areas along the Australian coast and in particular looking at sites off the southern coast of Victoria in the Gippsland area.

Back in December 2022, Christopher Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, declared the Bass Strait off Gippsland area as suitable for offshore renewable energy infrastructure.

The declared area offshore Victora covers about 15,000 square kilometres offshore and runs from Lakes Entrance in the east to south of Wilsons Promontory in the west. The area can support more than 10 GW of offshore wind capacity.