NORWAY
Offshore wind use case
Type: Offshore wind energy, floating and fixed
Focus: Fisheries co-existence
Status: Planning phase
1. Hywind Tampen: In 2022, the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm will be constructed by Equinor. Hywind Tampen consists of 11 8MWturbines and is intended to provide electricity for the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil and gas platforms in the Norwegian North Sea.
2. Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II: In 2020, two offshore areas for renewable energy production, Utsira Nord (floating, ca. 1500 MW) and Sørlige Nordsjø II (bottom-fixed, 3000 MW), were opened for allocation and licensing process.
These three cases, all located south to southwest of Norway. They will enable to examine the licensing process and consideration of the social and natural environment, both from a retrospective versus prospective as well as bottom fixed versus floating perspective.
Knowledge sharing events
-
Local champions’ upskilling meetings
-
Social innovation” webinars
-
Training sessions
-
Co-creation workshops
-
Brokerage events
WENDY tools assessment
-
Social acceptance interventions tool
-
WENDY toolbox
Wind farms development
-
Design co-existence roadmaps
-
Identification of future replication cases
Hub Manager
Christopher Harman PhD
Innovation Manager
Short Bio: Harman is currently the innovation manager at Norway’s largest industry cluster, Norwegian Offshore Wind, and works with industry and academic members to acquire and carry out RDI projects within offshore wind. Previously he was the research director at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), and holds a PhD in environmental chemistry.
Ε-mail: ch@norwegianoffshorewind.no
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-harman-b8a783239
Country Profile
Needs & Challenges
Domain
Needs
Political
-
Streamlining political framework conditions for wind energy project approvals.
-
Engaging stakeholders through dialogue mechanisms.
-
Building on cooperative legacies for community involvement.
-
Facilitating new energy communities.
Economic
-
Reviewing compensation rules for affected parties, especially fishermen.
-
Clear policy frameworks for public funding eligibility.
-
Public investment strategies for stable economic landscapes.
-
Guaranteed electricity selling price for community-initiated wind farms.
Sociocultural
-
Effective communication strategies for gaining public support and awareness.
-
Community engagement programs and promoting the positive impact of wind energy.
-
Respecting cultural practices and traditions.
-
Transparent communication about wind farm benefits.
Technological
-
Conducting environmental impact assessments and innovations in noise reduction technology. – Lowering visual impact with reduced light markings.
-
Research to lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
-
Prioritizing a lower carbon footprint during construction.
-
Investigating circularity and decommissioning methods.
Legal
-
Understanding legal frameworks and compliance measures.
-
Establishing a responsible regulatory body for licensing and supervision.
-
Developing a long-term politically independent strategy.
-
Crafting marine plans in coordination with legal frameworks.
-
Adapting tax regulations to support offshore wind projects.
Environmental
-
Implementing sustainable practices to minimize the environmental footprint.
-
Special measures for safe operation.
-
Research on emissions from turbine blade wear.
-
Bird migration and fish research, along with monitoring programs.
-
Comprehensive system for decommissioning and site rehabilitation.
Domain
Challenges
Political
-
Regulatory and policy barriers at regional and national levels require alignment and coordination.
-
Clear assignment of stakeholder roles is needed.
-
Harmonization with EU regulations and streamlined procedures are essential.
-
Advocacy to overcome national resistance to offshore wind is necessary.
-
Development of innovative cooperation models is important.
Economic
-
Devaluation of property and impacts on local businesses necessitate comprehensive compensation schemes.
-
Fair outcomes and mitigation of impacts on fisheries are vital.
-
Strategic planning for coexistence with existing industries is required.
-
Equitable participation through eligibility criteria and access mechanisms is important.
-
Price stabilisation strategies and a guaranteed minimum electricity selling price are needed.
Sociocultural
-
Tailored outreach strategies for diverse stakeholders are required.
-
Active listening and cooperation to address different interests.
-
Combating misinformation and demonstrating positive climate impact are crucial.
-
Integration into the local landscape and cultural fabric should align with the community’s identity.
-
Integration into the local landscape and cultural fabric should align with the community’s identity.
-
Transparency and accountability are essential for building public trust.
Technological
-
Careful project planning to mitigate cumulative effects and ecological sensitivities is necessary.
-
Credible environmental impact assessments (EIAs) support informed decision-making.
-
Innovative noise reduction measures and impact assessments for electromagnetism are important.
-
Thoughtful planning and siting of wind turbines for minimal disturbance.
-
Transition to cost-effective technology and reducing the carbon footprint are aligned with sustainability goals.
Legal
-
Dealing with complex and evolving legal frameworks requires legal expertise and adaptable strategies.
-
Centralized coordination to reduce regulatory fragmentation is needed.
-
Resolution of conflicts between aviation safety and bird safety regulations is important.
-
Consistency of policy across political cycles is critical.
-
Holistic marine spatial planning and addressing tax regulations complexity are essential.
Environmental
-
Studying impacts on local wildlife, ecosystems, and fish populations is essential.
-
Strict regulatory oversight for potential impacts of chemicals and substances on marine ecosystems is needed.
-
Robust engineering solutions for extreme weather conditions and remote locations are required.
-
Comprehensive studies on turbine wear and ecological impact are essential for sustainability.
Norwegian Pilot Case Roadmap
| Understanding Local Dynamics | |
| Objective | • To comprehensively understand and document the specific needs, challenges, and aspirations of the local community regarding wind farm projects. |
| Actions | • Conduct an in-depth analysis to gather detailed insights into local perceptions and concerns. |
| • Organize community forums and surveys to capture a broad spectrum of local opinions. | |
| Empowering Local Advocacy | |
| Objective | • To enhance the role and effectiveness of local champions in advocating for the community's interests in wind farm developments. |
| Actions | • Identify and support local champions through training and resources. |
| • Create platforms for these champions to present community views to stakeholders. | |
| Enhancing Coordination and Communication | |
| Objective | • To improve the coordination among different stakeholders involved in wind farm projects and related research activities. |
| Actions | • Establish regular inter-project meetings for information exchange and alignment. |
| • Plan integrated community events that ensure substantive local involvement beyond logistical roles. | |
| Navigating Legal and Policy Frameworks | |
| Objective | • To mitigate uncertainties and advocate for favourable policies related to wind farm development, particularly around concession processes and local content rules. |
| Actions | • Facilitate ongoing dialogues between the community, developers, and authorities. |
| • Prepare strategic responses to potential regulatory changes affecting local content and sustainability practices. | |
| Building Local Capacity and Infrastructure | |
| Objective | • To strengthen the local community's ability to benefit from and influence wind farm projects. |
| Actions | • Assist local authorities in capacity-building efforts for maximizing benefits from wind farms. |
| • Explore the formation of a nimble company to facilitate effective collaboration among local government, developers, and businesses. | |
| Promoting Innovation and Sustainability | |
| Objective | • To ensure that wind farm projects incorporate innovative approaches and sustainability practices that align with local and national goals. |
| Actions | • Leverage digital technologies to increase community engagement and participation. |
| • Advocate for the incorporation of sustainable (including social) development principles in project planning and execution. | |
| Implementing Participatory Planning | |
| Objective | • To employ participatory processes in the planning and development of new wind farm projects, ensuring they reflect the community's perspectives and needs. |
| Actions | • Utilize open panel discussions and other participatory methods as standard practice in project planning. |
| • Focus on converting dialogue into concrete actions and outcomes that address community needs. | |
| Developing the Co-Existence Roadmap | |
| Objective | • To outline a clear vision, objectives, and a sequence of steps for achieving harmonious coexistence between wind farms and the local community. |
| Actions | • Articulate a local vision and set specific objectives for wind farm contributions to the community. |
| • Define a step-by-step plan for implementing projects, incorporating community feedback and participatory planning processes. | |
| Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation | |
| Objective | • To establish a system for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of the roadmap, ensuring it remains responsive to community needs and project outcomes. |
| Actions | • Set up feedback mechanisms for continuous community input and project assessment. |
| • Regularly review and adjust the roadmap based on feedback and evaluations of project impacts. | |
