Equinor postpones the Trollvind offshore wind farm indefinitely. NRK writes that the project is shelved. If renewable projects become too expensive, they are said to be “postponed”, which is politically more palatable.

Equinor is state-owned and it is politically distressing for the government that yet another renewable project must be shelved. It can have knock-on effects.

Unfortunately, we no longer see any opportunity to deliver on our original initiative of having a floating offshore wind farm in operation well before 2030, says manager Siri Espedal Kindem for Renewables in Norway at Equinor.

When Equinor launched Trollvind last year, the goal was an investment decision in 2023 and start of construction in 2027. Already in April, these plans were postponed. The wind turbines on the Trollfield were to supply electricity to Kollsnes – which should both lower prices in the Bergen area and help electrify the oil platforms.

Equinor writes in the press release that there are sharply increasing costs throughout the value chain making it impossible to realise the project without some form of support. In addition, the technology that was the basis for the concept will not be available as planned. (NTB)