Norwegian value chain

Knut Erik Steen, Wind Director at NORWEP, explains.

Fifty years of offshore experience have given Norway specialist expertise in high-tech marine operations. We see Norwegian companies delivering across almost the entire offshore wind value chain. Our strengths lie in areas with contractual and volume similarities to oil and gas, where we can draw on extensive experience.

The offshore wind value chain can be divided into four main phases: development, construction, operation and decommissioning.

In the development phase, Norway has major developers such as Equinor and Aker Offshore Wind, which play a key role in large-scale projects. Main contractors and system integrators such as 4Subsea, Aegir Harvest, Aibel, Kværner and Origo may also contribute to front-end engineering during this phase. Norwegian companies are particularly strong in engineering services and seabed mapping, and are also active in research and development and digitalisation.

During the construction phase, Norwegian companies can also demonstrate their competitive advantage through advanced offshore expertise. Norway's strengths are particularly evident in large, complex projects. Developers and main contractors such as Aibel, Aker Solutions and Equinor have strong capabilities in project management, engineering services and information management, and can take full responsibility for projects during the construction phase. Norway also has a wide range of equipment suppliers, marine operators and service providers with expertise in installation and logistics, including companies such as Axess, Cranemaster, DeepOcean, Kongstein and Norsea Group. Main contractors, system integrators and equipment suppliers such as Nexans, 4Subsea, Aibel and Kværner supply cables and have extensive expertise in cable and seabed monitoring and stability analysis.

Norway is a world leader in maritime activities such as support vessels and marine equipment for offshore operations, with companies including Ulstein, Kongsberg and LMG Marin. This expertise has proved highly valuable in the offshore wind industry.

Health, safety and the environment (HSE) are key considerations during both the construction and operational phases. Norway was an early adopter of stringent HSE requirements for offshore activities, which were long regarded as a cost driver. As offshore operations worldwide increasingly face stringent HSE requirements, Norway is now beginning to reap significant benefits. Norwegian companies have firmly embedded this culture across everything from working conditions to safety and quality, giving them greater credibility in international markets.

Norwegian expertise in integrity management and lifetime extension is growing, with applications in the operational and decommissioning phases. Norway should establish a strong position in this field. Norway leads the way in instrumentation for the oil and gas industry, and this expertise can readily be transferred to the offshore wind industry. Norway was using digital twins long before the term was coined and has long been at the forefront of lifetime extension. Norwegian companies must seize this position in the rapidly growing offshore wind market. Companies operating in this field include Wirescan, StormGeo, Norconsult, Axess and Kværner.

With this wealth of expertise, Norway has the potential to become a global leader in offshore wind. We have strengths across the entire value chain – supplying everything except turbines. Our strongest capabilities are in areas that overlap with oil and gas, while we are less competitive in low-tech solutions and mass production. We are also competitive on price. Norwegian companies are at the forefront of systems integration and digital systems, where we also see clear market opportunities. This market was previously somewhat fragmented, but is now becoming integrated into a more holistic system – an excellent fit for Norwegian companies.

Norway is definitely riding the wave as the world prepares for the energy transition.