Portugal and Norway Team Up for a Major Leap in Offshore Wind Development

Norwegian Industry Leaders Gather in Lisbon

Heavyweights from Norwegian industry are converging on Portugal to foster collaboration as Iberia's offshore wind plan gains momentum. The event titled 'Portugal and Norway: Fostering Offshore Wind Supply Chain Development' will be held at the Museu do Oriente in Lisbon on December 3.

Event Details

This open event is hosted by WavEC Offshore Renewables in partnership with the Embassy of Norway in Portugal, Innovation Norway, and Norwegian Offshore Wind. Notable keynote speakers include Hanne Brusletto, the Norwegian Ambassador to Portugal, and Lidia Bulcão, Portugal’s Secretary of State for the Sea. The event will feature various industry participants, including DGEG, DNV, Source Galileo, and many more.

Ambitious Goals for Offshore Wind

The conference follows the Portuguese Government's recent update of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for 2021-2030, which sets an ambitious target of 2 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, significantly increasing from the previous goal of 300 MW by 2025. This initiative is crucial for enhancing energy security and addressing climate change.

WavEC’s Role in Offshore Wind

Marco Alves, CEO of WavEC, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Norwegian partners, noting the importance of supply chain development in the offshore wind sector. He emphasized that strong supply chains are vital for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability across project lifecycles.

Portugal's Renewable Energy Landscape

Portugal has phased out coal-fired power generation as of 2021 and now generates approximately 60% of its electricity from renewable sources. The NECP aims to increase this share to 80% by 2030, aligning with the European Union's climate goals. The National Offshore Renewable Energy Al__cpLocation Plan (PAER) reserves 10 GW for offshore wind, with public consultations for new policies starting in Q3 2024.

Norway's Expertise in Offshore Wind

Norway, producing around 98% of its electricity from renewables, boasts extensive experience in offshore wind technology. Rodrigo Ballesteros Cruz, from Innovation Norway, highlighted the potential for collaboration between maritime nations like Norway and Portugal to develop sustainable offshore wind solutions.

WavEC’s Global Impact

WavEC is recognized as a global leader in marine renewable energy development, having conducted over 70 R&D projects in the sector and collaborating with over 350 partners across 32 countries. Their efforts support the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme and include managing the Aguçadoura test site, promoting offshore testing infrastructures to bolster blue economy technologies.

Register for the Event

For those interested in advancing the offshore wind sector, registration for the event is now open.