The offshore wind collaboration between Norway and Greece grows stronger

Last week, Norwegian Offshore Wind (NOW) and Hellenic Wind Energy Association (ELETAEN) held a workshop in Athens to facilitate cooperation and promote partnerships between Greek and Norwegian companies in the offshore wind sector. The event served as a platform to establish and nurture connections within the Greek market. Representatives from five NOW member companies attended as part of the Visit NOW.

-This visit to Greece has shown that establishing strong links with local organisations is paying off, allowing NOW members to gain the needed insights to the Greek market and facilitating the possibility to get in touch with the Greek supply chain. I would like to stress the great bond that we have created amongst the cluster working group members during visit NOW, said Immanuel Capano, Chief Commercial Officer at Saitec.

The interest among Greek companies to meet members of Norwegian Offshore Wind has been significant, with over 50 Greek participants from 25+ companies joining the workshop where stakeholders discussed how to advance in offshore wind in Greece and Europe in general.

-The visit to Athens created excellent opportunities for partnerships in Greece as they deliver their goal for sustainable energy. Greece is well poised within the offshore wind market and early collaboration maximizes potential, said Christine Roche, Business Development Manager at PGS.

Expected growth

Greece's maritime region offers great wind potential, particularly for offshore wind projects, with a goal for installed capacity of 1.9 GW by 2030. These projects, comprising both fixed-bottom and floating installations, are expected to demonstrate high energy efficiency and contribute to grid stability, ultimately reducing electricity costs.

-We expect that the offshore wind market in Greece will grow significantly, driven by government initiatives, abundant wind resources, technology advancement and huge interest from the investors. Addressing challenges effectively would be crucial for realising the full potential of this market, says Rasa Morgan, Manager of Offshore Wind at GeoProvider, and adds_

-Our second market visit organised by NOW has provided an excellent opportunity to hear about development updates from the responsible government authorities and to (re)connect with the developers, academia representatives, supply chain and other stakeholders active in the Greek market. We are very much looking forward to the Greek-Norwegian collaboration in moving offshore wind development forward.

Highlighting upcoming projects, TERNA Energy and PPC presented plans for the two planned pilot projects in the north Aegean Sea, establishing the foundation for Greece’s offshore wind supply chain development. 

-The visit to Athens organised by NOW enabled Neomare to show our excellence to the Greek offshore wind market, and how we have qualities that meet their requirements. We are ready to continue the discussion, said Jan Åge Greger, Board Member and Geoscientist at Neomare.

MOU signed

The visit also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Moreld Ocean Wind and Lykomitros Steel SA. The signing ceremony, hosted by the Norwegian Embassy in Athens and attended by Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Varteressian, demonstrates that NOW's market focus on Greece has been beneficial for the members.

- The highlight of our visit was the signing of the MOU with Lykomitros Steel, a fabricator whom we first met during the previous Visit NOW to Greece and have since built a relationship with. Greece has some of the best wind resources in the Mediterranean and an abitious government and industry. It has been a priority for Moreld Ocean Wind to take part in the Visit NOW to Greece as we got to meet with key stakeholders in the Greek market, said Asbjørn Wathne, VP Business Development and Tendering at Moreld Ocean Wind.

The collaborative efforts between NOW and ELETAEN, along with the increasing enthusiasm from stakeholders, indicate a promising path for Greece's offshore wind sector.