Japan’s ENEOS Renewable Energy (ERE) has joined the GoliatVIND project in the Barents Sea, acquiring a 20% shareholding from Odfjell Oceanwind.

ERE is the renewable energy division of Japanese conglomerate ENEOS Holdings, developing offshore and onshore wind, solar, hydropower and biomass projects.

GoliatVIND is a 75-MW demonstration project for floating offshore wind that will include a grid connection via the Var Energi-operated Goliat FPSO to the Hammerfest region of northern Norway. Goliat is already supplied with power from shore through a 110-kV HV cable.

The facilities will be positioned at a location in 400 m water depth on the median line between the northern Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.

Odfjell Oceanwind will provide its Deepsea Star semisubmersible foundation technology. Earlier this year, the GoliatVIND project secured a grant of NOK2 billion ($185 million) from the Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA SF for a floating offshore wind demonstration program.

The in-place cable to the FPSO has a capacity of 75 MW and GoliatVIND will have the same capacity. There are currently plan for 5×15-MW floating wind turbines which will be located 5-11 km from the FPSO.

Odfjell Oceanwind aims to have the wind park operational in 2028, although that will deped depending on how the Ministry of Oil and Energy determines the licensing process going forward.

Experience at this project will also be applicable to other future floating offshore wind investments in Norway, including Utsira Nord in the North Sea.