The leading Norwegian shipping company Knutsen OAS and one of Norway’s larger utilities Haugaland Kraft/SKL (Sunnhordland Kraftlag) has teamed up with an experienced management team to establish the offshore wind company Deep Wind Offshore (DWO), with a plan to develop offshore wind projects in Norway and internationally.

Norway has opened up two areas for offshore wind (January 1st), unlocking further opportunities for one of Europe’s leading energy nations. The country has a strong maritime history, built on industries such as fishing, shipping and oil and gas. Renewable power production is nothing new to Norway, as electrification of the country from hydropower started more than hundred years ago. If Norway is to be fully electrified, there will be a need for new renewable energy. The knowledge we have acquired from these industries is relevant for the development of a new offshore industry. 

Utsira Nord is ideally located to supply new renewable electricity to a region with an expected significant power deficit. Southern North Sea II could be an opening for Norway as a supplier of renewable energy to Europe. The company has an experienced management that is complemented by industrial owners with capability in all phases of development, construction, and operation. Knut Vassbotn has been appointed CEO of Deep Wind Offshore.

“I now see similar triggers in Norway as I have seen in the most advanced offshore wind markets internationally. The opening of the two areas for offshore wind could be a new industrial adventure for Norway, and with the two areas opened, Norway can take a position as a leading offshore wind nation built on our expertise from the maritime sector, oil and gas and hydropower production. There is nothing that pleases me more than leading a company that is building on the heritage and knowledge from these industries with a close geographical connection to the first offshore wind fields. The strong team that we are now building, will position the company ideally in Norway. We have a global network, and with the 16 ships our owner Knutsen is currently building, we have a strong international foothold.” says Knut Vassbotn.

Deep Wind Offshore is also demonstrating that a utility and a shipping/offshore company can use their industrial heritage and broad energy expertise to enable new, sustainable offshore power production. At the same time, the company intends to facilitate the needed decarbonization of offshore and onshore industries, and provide opportunities for suppliers, by collaborating with power consumers and actively engage with the strong Norwegian supply chain built on capabilities from oil and gas.

“With a proud Norwegian maritime history, Norway is well positioned to develop a new offshore industry. Knutsen will be part of that journey and be a contributor in realizing offshore wind projects. We also have a strong fleet and see significant business opportunities in converting some of these vessels to e.g. T&I operations", says owner and chairman of the board of Knutsen, Trygve Seglem.

“We are now establishing a new company, headquartered in Western Norway, a region with a long history in producing power to Norway and beyond. We want to develop the expertise in the region, and new renewable power production outside Utsira. Our capability in infrastructure and network development will be a differentiator in the offshore wind sector", says CEO of Haugaland Kraft, Olav Linga. 

"We are facing a green shift that requires significantly more renewable energy. The combination of offshore wind and balancing hydropower is extremely exciting and will provide a truly sustainable renewable energy resource of scale, hence facilitate the green industrial growth", says CEO of SKL, John Martin Mjånes.

The main owners of the company are Knutsen O.A.S, Haugaland Kraft AS and Sunnhordland Kraftlag AS.

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