Response to consultation on identification of new areas for offshore renewable energy production

Vårgrøn refers to the consultation letter from NVE 30.05.22 with an invitation to provide input on identification of new areas for offshore renewable energy production, as well as changes to previously explored areas and scaling of areas already opened (Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord).

Input to opening of new areas

When identifying areas for offshore wind, there are several important considerations to take into account. Offshore wind projects should be located to ensure access to a power market (in Norway or Europe) and the opportunity of connection to a future North Sea grid. Furthermore, areas should be chosen where conflict with other interests is reduced to a minimum or zero.

In 2021, Vårgrønn, Corio Generation and Agder Energi presented a vision of 50 GW offshore wind production by 2050. In this report, we highlighted possible new areas with space for 50 GW offshore wind, mainly in the southern part of the North Sea. The vision and maps have been presented to public authorities and fishing interests. Attached is a map that has been further developed based on the input from these meetings. An area is marked on the map that we recommend NVE to explore further. We have excluded particularly vulnerable habitats for sandeel with a buffer zone of one nautical mile to these areas, as well as excluding an area with a lot of fishing activity and an area with a lot of oil and gas activity. Parts of the area are located in areas where there may be larger concentrations of seabirds, but the available data is very uncertain. With this background, it is not appropriate to highlight exclusion areas for seabirds at this stage. After dialogue with the Norwegian Coastal Administration, we agree with the need for arrangements for ship traffic through the area. When SVO areas and areas with high fishing activity and oil and gas activity, SN I and SN II are excluded, the remaining area for further exploration amounts to approximately 20,000 km.

Based on knowledge available about the areas in the southern part of the North Sea, the area identified in the attached map is well suited to accommodate large parts of the government's objective on offshore wind:

• Very good wind capacity in the area.
• The area facilitates connection to a North Sea grid and several possible markets.
• The area is close to several oil and gas installations, which provides opportunities for better utilization of existing infrastructure and possibly direct supply of electricity, as well as the potential for reuse of installations in connection with future hydrogen production.
• The areas enable both fixed and floating offshore wind and make it possible to choose the best and most cost-effective technology based on future cost development.
• Indication of moderate conflicts of interest with for example fisheries in the area. SVO areas (mainly areas for sandeel) are omitted.
• The area includes SN I, which has been explored and identified as well suited for offshore wind.
• Offshore wind in these areas will not be visible from land.

Areas along the coast of Western Norway and further north may also be relevant for offshore wind. Development of such areas is linked to domestic power demand and further reduced costs for new offshore wind, not least floating offshore wind.

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Opportunities for increased capacity in Sørlige Nordsjø II

To avoid that the development of offshore wind will take up unnecessarily large areas, we need to facilitate the best possible use of areas in the open areas for offshore wind. As of today, a total of 3 GW of offshore wind has been opened in the area called SN II.
3 GW in SN II provides lower energy density compared to what is common in similiar markets. It is possible to increase the capacity in SN II from 3 to 6 GW, while ensuring coexistence with other industries and interests.
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There are several reasons why increasing the capacity in SN II would make sense:

• It will help ensure good use of areas, and make an important contribution to the government's target of allocating area corresponding to 30 GW of offshore wind by 2040.
• Other interests have accepted the development of offshore wind in SN II, and it would be wise to increase capacity and area utilization rather than seize unnecessary areas elsewhere.
• Climate change and the power situation in Europe have created an urgent need for new renewable power. The already opened areas will be able to contribute meet the need for new, renewable power for Norwegian and European markets faster than future opened areas.
• Increasing the capacity makes it possible to divide SN II into a larger number of offshore wind projects. It will help increase the diversity of offshore wind players in SNII, and create a greater breadth and market for Norwegian developers and supplier industries that want to establish themselves in offshore wind.

The consultation response can be read here.

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