Norway-Spain agreement cements offshore wind collaboration within steel

This week, Norwegian Offshore Wind, counting more than 360 members, signed the MOU with ASIME in Galicia, counting more than 600 members.

-This collaboration will be aimed specifically at the steel industry, which is instrumental both for floating and bottom fixed offshore wind, says Einar Tollaksvik, leader of the Working Group for Spain in Norwegian Offshore wind. 

The MOU states that Spain and Norway have distinct but complementary strengths in floating offshore wind, creating opportunities for collaboration. Their supply chains can work together by combining Spain’s strong industrial manufacturing, steel production, turbine expertise, and logistics infrastructure with Norway’s expertise in offshore engineering, floating structures, marine operations experience, and harsh-environment operations. 

-With this MOU, we aim to establish a framework for cooperation to advance the development of offshore wind in both Spain and Norway.  By leveraging the expertise, capabilities, and innovation from both ASIME and Norwegian Offshore Wind, we will take advantage of the synergies to benefit our members, says EU adviser in Norwegian Offshore Wind, Martine Farstad. 

Norwegian Offshore Wind is the largest and fastest growing industrial cluster in Norway. ASIME is its counterpart in the region of Galicia, Spain, where it counts with more than 600 member companies, based in the cities of Vigo, Naròn, Lugo and Ferrol. 

-This agreement enables Norwegian suppliers to find partners in a region that is crucial to the offshore wind development in Spain. To enter the market, local partners are door openers, says Tollaksvik. 

The main objectives of the MOU are exploring opportunities for joint projects and networking activities where mutually beneficial and promoting sustainability, cost reduction, and efficiency improvements in offshore wind projects through advanced metal technologies.

-Galicia is one of the best positioned European regions for the implementation and development of the offshore wind industry, because we have the necessary experience throughout the value chain, while we have a unique installed port capacity. Our companies are very well positioned internationally; in fact, of the only 5 floating wind farms implemented in Europe, 3 have Galician components and technology. This agreement is one more step to continue positioning our region as an international offshore wind hub. The synergies that we will be able to develop with our Norwegian partners will be of great interest for both parties to deepen the development of projects and new business opportunities in both territories, says Enrique Mallón, Secretary General of Asime.