Shaping the Future of METCentre
Extended Concession for expansion of the Karmøy test area
The expansion of METCentre at Karmøy will enable increased testing capacity for floating renewable energy technologies through new shared grid infrastructure.
The expansion includes:
- New 13 km subsea cable
- New 3.4 km land cable
- Offshore connection infrastructure
- Up to 82.7 MW power generation
- Up to 5 new projects for testing floating renewable energy production
Location and Timeline
- 10 km west of Karmøy
- Estimated completion of grid infrastructure:
Summer 2029 - Estimated start of land excavation work:
Spring 2028
Background and history
METCentre, located offshore Karmøy, is Norway’s national test centre for floating offshore wind. Since its establishment, the site has played a key role in demonstrating new floating wind technologies, including the successful operation of the TetraSpar demonstrator.
Over recent years, interest from international technology developers has increased significantly. Multiple project developers have secured test slots at the site, creating a strong need for expanded grid infrastructure to support future installations
Purpose of the expansion
The purpose of the METCentre expansion is to enable connection of new floating offshore wind projects to the grid through a shared and scalable infrastructure.
The expansion will:
Increase the available capacity at the test site (up to 82.7 MW within the existing concession)
Enable multiple test projects to operate in parallel
Provide a flexible and efficient connection solution adapted to the needs of a test centre
Support technology development and reduce cost for future floating offshore wind project
Concept and development approach
The expansion is based on the development of a Common Grid Infrastructure (CGI), connecting the offshore test area to the onshore grid at Skudeneshavn.
The solution is designed as a shared system that allows multiple test projects to connect over time. It includes:
- An onshore cable connection and substation interface
- An offshore export cable system
- A flexible offshore connection solution enabling phased connection of test projects
The project has been developed through several feasibility studies and close collaboration with leading suppliers in offshore wind, subsea systems, and grid infrastructure
Status
The project has reached an advanced development stage:
- Required concession for the grid connection is granted
- Preferred technical concept has been identified
- Engineering, supplier dialogue, and project maturation are ongoing
The project is currently progressing towards Final Investment Decision (FID), targeted in alignment with the first test projects requiring connection.
Earliest expected commissioning of the new grid infrastructure is around 2029, depending on commitments and timelines from test site users