The energy ministry announced on Thursday that Norway has approved the two initial applications received for its 'first commercial floating offshore-wind tender. This will allow the two consortiums to refine their plans and take part in a subsequent subsidy auction.

Two applications were received by the ministry before the deadline of September. One was from a group made up?of Equinor, Eni and Vaargronn's Vaargronn and another?from Deep Wind Offshore Norway AS & EDF Renewables.

The ministry announced that both groups met the criteria for participation and were each allocated a?area? at the Utsira Nord off Norway's South-West coast to mature their respective projects up to?500 megawatts.

In a press release, Energy Minister Terje Asland stated that the projects would "contribute" to the development of?floating off-shore wind technology as well as increase renewable power generation in south-west Norway. (Reporting and editing by EssiLehto, Terje Solsvik and Nora Buli)

(source: Reuters)