Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will join NorSea and Parkwind in a partnership dedicated to floating offshore wind projects in Norway. In doing so, the companies will further strengthen their consortium initially targeting the Utsira Nord tender.

Copenhagen/Oslo – February 1, 2023 – The three companies, all leading Nordic and European renewable, and industrial companies, bring together substantial knowledge of offshore maritime operations and renewable energy project development and execution in Norway and worldwide. By forming a partnership, the group aims to take part when Norway realizes its goal of increasing renewable energy production from offshore wind with a foundation in Norwegian industry and R&D, creating both jobs and growing the Norwegian economy.

CIP has teamed up with Norwegian pension fund KLP as a strategic co-investor ensuring a strong anchor point and contribution to Norwegian society in the decades to come.

Norway has a clear target of reaching net zero by 2050 and has committed to establishing 30 GW of offshore wind power by 2040. The majority of Norwegian offshore wind potential are at water depths requiring floating wind projects. The first tender round in 2023 includes the Utsira Nord area which will initially offer 1.5GW of capacity. The objectives stated publicly by the Norwegian government are to develop a competitive Norwegian supplier base, technology hub and industry around floating offshore wind.

By entering the partnership, the three companies aim to combine their considerable expertise in developing, financing, and constructing renewable assets to successfully enter the Norwegian floating offshore market. Together they have broad experience from similar projects in Northern Europe and the rest of the world combined with a strong local presence, local knowledge, and ambitions to contribute to development of local value chains and industry.

“CIP, with their experience, forward-leaning renewable technologies, and financial capacity, will further strengthen our partnership and bring capabilities that will help ensure a high quality and competitive application and development of Utsira Nord. The inclusion of KLP as CIP’s strategic co-investor,further underlines the Norwegian position, and our main ambition to build a strong Norwegian industry developing offshore wind for the future”, says Kristin Gjertsen, CEO NorSea Impact.

“We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with such capable and ambitious partners. It will substantially strengthen our foothold in Norway and provide us with a strong platform to aid the development and growth of the Norwegian offshore wind industry over the next decade as well as the creation of local industry, innovation, and local jobs,” says Nischal Agarwal, partner at CIP.

“The creation of this partnership is particularly exciting as it brings some of the most competent, relevant, and experienced industry players together. It represents a major step forward for the development of offshore energy in Norway. The combination of expertise and resources coming from this consortium is bound to lead to innovation, local value creation to the transition to a sustainable future”, says Mathias Van Steenwinkel, Head of M&A, Origination & Tenders at Parkwind.

“Investments in Norwegian offshore wind are in line with KLP’s long term strategy for sustainable investment. As a large Norwegian institutional investor, we are eager to help develop new sources of renewable energy that we expect will deliver attractive returns to our owners, mainly Norwegian public sector entities and their employees. We have for a number of years been a limited partner in CIP’s funds and we have strong confidence in them as a partner. With the addition of the other members of the consortium we think the group has a strong combination of technical, industrial, and financial capabilities. KLP has a goal of investing at least six billion Norwegian kroner in “green” investments annually. With this investment we hope to boost our initiatives to a new level,” says KLP’s CFO, Aage Schaanning.

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About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Funded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world’s largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focuses on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

CIP manages ten funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 19 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 140 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 400 employees and 11 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com

About NorSea


NorSea has more than 55 years of history at the core of the Norwegian offshore industry. The company is a complete supplier of port services, base and logistics solutions to customers in both the oil and gas industry, the aquaculture industry, the wind industry, and other maritime industries. The NorSea Group currently operates nine offshore bases and port facilities along the coast of Norway, as well as bases in Denmark and the UK.
In recent years, NorSea has also built up an ever-increasing business in renewable industries such as offshore wind. Including a number of project assignments and service deliveries related to mobilization
and project logistics, maintenance and modification services, hiring of technical personnel, marine support, etc.
In 2022, NorSea had a turnover of around NOK 2.5 billion and around 1300 employees. NorSea is owned by the Wilhelmsen group, a comprehensive global maritime company. Read more at https://norseagroup.com

About Parkwind

Parkwind is an independent green energy company that develops, finances and operates offshore wind farms. With more than a decade of experience and 771 MW under operational management in the Belgian North Sea, Parkwind is currently expanding internationally. With active projects at various stages of development, Parkwind is present in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Greece, and Australia/New Zealand.

Committed to making green energy available and affordable for everyone through its unique approach covering the entire value chain of offshore wind, Parkwind has established itself as a reliable and competitive partner to communities, governments and suppliers globally.

Composed of over 140 professionals, Parkwind leads the offshore wind energy activities of its Belgian shareholder Virya, which is owned by the Colruyt Group and Korys. Learn more at www.parkwind.eu

For further information, please contact:
NorSea:
Kristin Gjertsen, CEO NorSea Impact
Phone: +4797794948
Email: Kristin.gjertsen(a)norseagroup.com

CIP:
Oliver Routhe Skov, Head of Media Relations CIP
Phone : +45 30541227
Email : orsk(a)cisc.dk

Parkwind :
Vedran Horvat, Communication Manager
Phone : +32471638201
Email : vedran.horvat(a)parkwind.eu


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Maarten van der Horst

Head of Projects

Maarten joined Parkwind and more specifically the Oriel project team in early 2021. He brings 17 years of experience in the energy industry having worked at Engie's renewables arm first as an engineer, later as offshore specialist.

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Wim Verrept

IT Services Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2016 as risk manager, during the installation phase of Nobelwind. Since then his responsibilities have expanded to include IT and the QHSSE department. Before joining the company, he worked as a risk manager at large financial institution in Belgium.

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Ingrid Dony

HR Manager

Ingrid joined Parkwind in 2013 and manages the Human Resources department. Her expertise in corporate HR has created the foundations in Parkwind’s evolving and rapidly growing employee and consultant base. Her team manages everything from payroll to employee development and communications. She has been instrumental in preparing the organization for international expansion and the digitalization of numerous HR legal and administrative tools.

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Dirk Dewettinck

Head of R&D

At Parkwind since 2015 he manages the engineering resources involved in project development, design and construction. He was closely involved in the technical management of the Nobelwind and Northwester 2 projects. Prior to joining Parkwind, he was involved in other offshore wind projects, working for a major wind turbine supplier, and prior to that he worked for more than 15 years with major engineering contractors in projects around the world, mainly in the conventional power generation construction and services (steam, gas, nuclear).

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Clément Helbig de Balzac

Project Director Arcadis Ost 1

Joining Parkwind in 2011 as a project finance specialist and he was heavily involved in the financing and construction of Northwind and Nobelwind. Thereafter, as project finance manager, he led the financing process of Northwester 2 and the refinancing of three operational offshore wind farms of the Parkwind portfolio. He is also involved in business development projects for his expertise lies in financing processes, construction contract negotiation, contracting strategy and development and construction management.

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Edward Van Melkebeek

Head of Technology

Since joining Parkwind in 2018, he has been leading the Technology team responsible for leveraging Parkwind’s know-how in civil, electrical and WTG packages to development of new projects. The team also performs a supply chain role, managing technical aspects of project contracts. Previously, he has built extensive practical and managerial experience in the offshore construction business for over 22 years at a global leading dredging and offshore contractor strongly active in the offshore wind industry.

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Mathias Van Steenwinkel

Business Development Manager

He joined Parkwind in 2012 working on financial modelling, PPA negotiations and the overall financial close processes. Since 2016, he is heading the growing business development department playing a key role in the identification of new projects, global partnerships and tender preparations.

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Kristof Verlinden

O&M Manager

With Parkwind since 2010, he is responsible for the asset management and production management of all of Parkwind’s offshore operational assets. The O&M organization plays a pivotal role in project development incorporating strategic insight to ensure frictionless O&M operations from the moment of first production. The team also supplies external support services, is involved in numerous R&D initiatives with universities and wind farm performance analysis using state of the art data systems. Kristof joined Parkwind with an engineering background in international service support business and wind turbine driveline design validation.

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Pieter Marinus

General Counsel and Investment Relations Director

As a former Parkwind board member, he has been involved in the financial close and follow-up of every Parkwind project as well as in their acquisition and divestment processes. Prior to joining Parkwind’s management in 2017, he was also in charge of multiple other renewable energy investments and financings around Europe, notably as Investment Director at Korys.

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Peter Caluwaerts

Head of Engagement Management

After years of building extensive experience in large construction works, he started his career in offshore wind in 2010 by taking up the role of CLO of Parkwind, responsible for regulatory, legal and contracting matters for Belwind and Northwind windfarms. Since then, as Project Director, he’s led the Northwester 2 project completed in 2020 and is now responsible for Parkwind’s Irish projects Oriel and Clogherhead. He plays an instrumental role in organizing Parkwind’s international expansion and growth.

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Eric Antoons

co-CEO

Before joining the company in 2013, he worked for one of the largest power and gas suppliers in Belgium, in both operational and executive functions. Joining Parkwind in 2013 as COO, he supervised the construction of three wind farm projects and the considerable growth of O&M activities. Since becoming co-CEO in 2016, he has also developed Parkwind’s R&D activities to the forefront partnering with universities and several technology start-ups.

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François Van Leeuw

co-CEO

He joined Parkwind as CFO in 2009 and has been leading the financing and development of Parkwind's first wind farms. In his role he’s particularly involved in new business and partnership development for Parkwind globally. He is also serving as the chairman of the Belgian Offshore Platform, the non-profit association of investors and owners of Belgian wind farms.

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Paul Tummers

CFO

Arriving to Parkwind in 2019, after a broad career in energy and infrastructure, he has taken a leading role in Parkwind’s international expansion from both corporate finance and organizational restructuring.