BP has joined Statkraft and Aker Offshore Wind in a consortium bidding to develop offshore wind energy in Norway.
The partnership will pursue a bid to develop offshore wind power in the Sørlige Nordsjø 2 (SN2) licence area.
SN2’s “favourable location provides power export access to local and adjacent markets”, said BP.
The consortium, in which each member will hold a third ownership stake, also intends to explore opportunities to provide clean power to electrify offshore oil and gas facilities.
Statkraft and Aker Offshore Wind had a previous tie-up after signing a cooperation agreement in January.
BP executive vice president of gas & low carbon energy Dev Sanyal (pictured) said: “BP aims to grow our renewables business at scale and we see great opportunities in offshore wind energy.
“We have decades of offshore experience in the North Sea and will also bring our extensive trading capabilities and strong relationships in Europe. Coming together with Aker and Statkraft, we believe this consortium will be ideally positioned to effectively and efficiently grow and deliver clean power for European markets, as well as strengthen the supply to Norway when needed.”
Statkraft chief executive Christian Rynning-Tønnesen added: “We have extensive capability from the development and operation of onshore wind around the world and experience in significant offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“Strong growth, decreasing technology costs and the involvement of industrial and financial players all indicate the rising role that offshore wind will play in Europe. Our partnership with Aker and bp will create meaningful value and contribute towards Europe’s energy transition.”
