Norwegian company Caera has acquired its compatriot Energy Innovation as it plans to set up a skilled personnel base at the Egersund Energy Hub as part of the offshore wind supply chain in Norway.
Caera is a supplier of skilled professionals in electrical and mechanical sciences, and Energy Innovation is an education and certification center.
Both companies have a letter of intent signed with the Norseman Wind consortium, which recently announced its plans to apply for a license to build a 1.4 GW offshore wind project in Norway.
Egersund Energy Hub is intended as an operation and maintenance (O&M) base for the project, which Caera sees as well positioned to contribute to developing a complete supplier industry for offshore wind in Norway.
“We see great opportunities for business development of operation and maintenance services, technical education and HSE certification in wind power and other renewable energy” , said Robert Norum , Chairman of the Board of Caera.
“We need to readjust. The best way to carry out the restructuring is by building a bridge from our solid petro-maritime industry to the expertise we need. We will develop a new domestic market for the development, operation and maintenance of the offshore wind projects at Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord” , said Frank Emil Moen , CEO of Energy Innovation.
Last year, Norway opened two zones for offshore wind and launched a pre-application period for them this January. As the developers announce their applications for acreage at the two areas – Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II – the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy is working on the licensing process for the projects that will be built there.