We believe Norway can develop the world’s most sustainable offshore wind industry combining decades of ocean experience with new climate innovations. By building an industry that cuts emissions, protects biodiversity and creates jobs sustainability and climate innovation can become a competitive advantage for the Norwegian wind industry at home and abroad. With a long-term vision of net zero emissions, zero waste and planet positive solutions, we aim to drive such a development for floating offshore wind. The consortium will use Utsira Nord as a test bed for sustainable solutions. We have a 360-degree vision for our project that include dialogue, biodiversity protection and social commitments. and we believe sustainability should be made a criterium for awarding a wind license area at Utsira Nord.

CO-EXISTENCE
We work actively to find solutions for co-existence between offshore wind and other marine industries and stakeholders. Aker Offshore Wind supports and participates in several ongoing research projects on stakeholder dialogue and coexistence in Norway, one of which is with the Center for the Ocean and the Arctic at the University of Tromsø, exploring opportunities to see how fisheries, fish farming, other energy providers and environmental organizations can cooperate to ensure sustainable use and development in the ocean.


RECYCLING
Together with the University of Strathclyde, Composite UK and other partners, Aker Offshore Wind is the lead commercial partner developing a method for wind turbine blade recycling, with the aim of ensuring a more sustainable future for the global wind industry and the wider composites manufacturing industry. The environmental benefits from this project cannot be understated as waste from wind turbine blades alone are expected to reach around 2 million tons globally by 2050. In November 2021, the project was awarded a £1.3 million grant from the UK government and Aker Offshore Wind has committed more than £500,000.


BIODIVERSITY
Through its social investment policy, one of Ocean Winds’ objectives is to protect natural heritage and biodiversity in the oceans. It accompanies each of its project with initiatives to comply with such a vision. For example Ocean Winds’ EFGL Project in France is designed as a first-of-a-kind environmental platform, whereby marine biodiversity is supported by an ecodesign approach. Objective is to install artificial habitats on one EFGL floater to assess efficiency before potential mass deployment improvement of bird behaviour knowledge and monitoring/deterrent technology reliability. This ecology concern is always worked on in association with local stakeholders.