Portugal is ready for offshore wind take-off

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Einar Tollaksvik from Saga Subsea AS is heading up the working group for Spain and Portugal in Norwegian Offshore Wind. PHOTO: Zeko Media

Portuguese authorities have set a very ambitious target of 10 GW offshore wind by 2030. Norwegian Offshore Wind is strengthening the collaboration with Portugal to get business going between companies in these two markets.

Portugal has big ambitions in offshore wind, especially on floating. The authorities have set up working groups within three key areas: (i) marine space, (ii) port infrastructure, and (iii) grid connection.

The authorities have now started a round of consultations on areas (Marine space) that are set aside for offshore wind: Viana do Castelo, Leixões, Figueira da Foz, Ericeira-Cascais and Sines.

The auction is expected to take place in autumn 2023. The Government is also underway on a set of regulations for the allocation of areas and the auction model. The Portuguese authorities have not reached a conclusion here.

Collaboration with authorities

NOW met with representatives from two Ministries in Portugal this week: Secretary of State for Sea and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate. Their main message is that 2023 is the year a regulatory framework will be put in place, and that Portugal needs investment and cooperation with partners outside of Portugal to reach the objective of 10 GW.    

Norwegian Offshore Wind visited Portugal this week. 

-Norwegian companies have a window of opportunity for taking a strong position in a large and emerging market that fit the Norwegian supply chain well, says Einar Tollaksvik, who is heading up the working group for Spain and Portugal in Norwegian Offshore Wind.

Test infrastructure

In Northern Portugal, in the area outside Viana do Castelo, where WindFloat (25MW) has already been installed, the Portuguese authorities want to develop a test area for floating offshore wind, with a capacity up to 500MW. A set of regulations with grid access is now being drawn up. There are several developers considering this area.

 

Local supply chain

The developers in Portugal are divided between two cities: Porto, which is the industrial "capital", and Lisbon, which is the political one. The two major Portuguese developers, EDP and GALP, are located in both cities. Norwegian developers who are active in this market are Mainstream and Source Galileo/Odfjell Oceanwind, and possibly Statkraft.

The EPCI stakeholders are also of great interest for Norwegian suppliers. TechnipFMC are already in the Portuguese market, and Norwegian EPCIs are assessing the opportunities such as Odfjell Oceanwind.

Two ports are central to the development of offshore wind in Portugal: Viana do Castelo and Sines. The ports will be integral in the development of a supply chain in offshore wind in Portugal.

-Norwegian Offshore Wind is setting up a Visit NOW on the 18 and 19^th of September to Portugal. We aim to connect Norwegian suppliers to wind farms developers and the local supply chain. This is a no brainer for market introduction, says Einar Tollaksvik.

 

Portugal has big ambitions in offshore wind, especially on floating. The authorities have set up working groups within three key areas: (i) marine space, (ii) port infrastructure, and (iii) grid connection.

The authorities have now started a round of consultations on areas (Marine space) that are set aside for offshore wind: Viana do Castelo, Leixões, Figueira da Foz, Ericeira-Cascais and Sines.

The auction is expected to take place in autumn 2023. The Government is also underway on a set of regulations for the allocation of areas and the auction model. The Portuguese authorities have not reached a conclusion here.

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