Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Company has joined Source Galileo, Odfjell Oceanwind and Vår Energi on a floating offshore wind project at the Goliat platform outside Hammerfest in Norway.
The project called GoliatVIND is planned to be in operation in 2027, adding 320 GWh of renewable energy to the Hammerfest region.
The offshore wind farm will be connected to the Goliat platform, utilising the existing power cable to shore. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate floating offshore wind technology in Norway, as well as increased production of renewable energy in a region that has a large and growing need of electricity.
“Everything is in place for GoliatVIND, and the project does not require any new major interventions on land. Such electrification projects with offshore wind will accelerate the development of Norwegian supply chains and develop an export industry. It will make us ready for larger developments of floating offshore wind, such as Utsira Nord in 2030,” said Gunnar Birkeland, CEO of Source Galileo Norge.
Kansai is Japan’s leading energy company and is a major global investor in renewable energy and offshore wind. The company is already involved in the Utsira Nord application, together with Source Galileo, Odfjell Oceanwind and IKEA’s investment arm Ingka.
The company’s role in the new partnership will be to contribute actively with their expertise and technical competence within interfaces and high-voltage systems, as well as their experience with procurement and financial planning.
“This demonstration project is ideally placed to position Kansai to bring the technical knowledge and experience obtained back to the Japanese market. We are excited to further develop our collaboration with Source Galileo and Odfjell Oceanwind, and look forward to working together at GoliatVIND to make the project possible,” added Seigo Yagi, general manager of Kansai.
