{
  "id": 12603589,
  "title": "Fortsatt tro på flytende havvind",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/fortsatt-tro-pa-flytende-havvind",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T09:57:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "E24 Norway",
    "slug": "e24-norway",
    "url": "https://e24.no/energi-og-klima/i/oKRrjm/fortsatt-tro-paa-flytende-havvind"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent development, the Norwegian government's ruling coalition - Høyre, Frp, Rødt and KrF - announced their intention to conduct a thorough review and quality assurance of the planned subsidies for floating offshore wind power generation, amounting to up to 35 billion kroner in 2025 values. The government has received external evaluations and analyses from Enova, Oslo Economics, and Wiersholm law firm, all of which have been included in the 2027 state budget. Energy Minister Terje Aasland remains committed to floating offshore wind power, emphasizing that Norway needs more renewable energy and that Utsira Nord can make a significant contribution to the Norwegian energy balance, while the project can also contribute to technology development and cost reduction for floating offshore wind power. External evaluations presented in the state budget support the significance of Utsira Nord, according to the state advisor. Wiersholm's analysis indicates that the state's liability is capped at a maximum of 35 billion kroner, covering a portion of the investment. However, the state is not able to increase investment support after the competition or compensate the developer for changing market conditions or weak power prices, as stated by Wiersholm. Oslo Economics assessed the effects of a 500-megawatt floating offshore wind project in Utsira Nord, which would cost around 29 billion kroner to build and have annual operating costs of about 880 million kroner. The study projects the concrete concept's cost to vary between 4 and 13.5 billion kroner, with a midpoint result of 8.5 billion kroner for Norway and 6,000 job-years created. Both the construction and operation phases of the project would provide significant economic benefits, primarily in Rogaland, Vestland, and Trøndelag. Enova believes that a floating wind project in Utsira Nord can contribute to technology development and reduced costs, noting that the project could provide essential experience in the transition from demonstration to early industrialization of floating offshore wind power. They say that the Utsira Nord project could lead to cost reductions compared to previous projects through fewer units, fewer installation operations, and lower operating costs. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate's analyses indicate that floating offshore wind power in the Utsira Nord area could reduce the average electricity price in the NO2 price range (covering Kristiansand and Stavanger) to NOK 3 per kilowatt-hour in 2035, compared to a non-project scenario. If neither floating offshore wind nor a fixed-bottom project in Sørlige Nordsjø 2 is built, electricity prices nationwide would increase by an average of 8.4 Norwegian crowns per kilowatt-hour in 2035 compared to the implementation of the projects. The government is considering adjusting the draft of the support agreement for floating offshore wind power, reducing the deposit for project cancellation before investment decision and paying a portion of the state support earlier in the project execution. Developers would be reimbursed up to 10 percent of the support if they abandon the project before the investment decision, and 20 percent if the abandonment occurs after the investment decision. Developers would receive up to 10 percent of the support if the investment decision is made, 20 percent upon the first power transmission to the grid, and the remaining 70 percent upon project completion. Businesses and trade unions mobilized in the summer against the proposed review of the floating offshore wind plans, fearing that the competition could slow down the expansion. Energy Minister Aasland stated that the floating offshore wind project alone would have a significant impact on the energy balance and electricity prices in Norway. He emphasized that Norway must adjust its perspective, as the country currently spends 20 billion kroner annually on energy subsidies while facing a potential 35 billion kroner investment in floating offshore wind power for decades to come.",
  "summary": "Regjeringen legger frem nye vurderinger av flytende havvind, og har fortsatt troen på teknologien…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}