Parkwind, Ingka Investments and NorSea team up for the Norwegian Sørlige Nordsjø II offshore wind project

The Ventyr offshore wind consortium has today submitted the application to prequalify for the development of the Sørlige Nordsjø II area in the Norwegian North Sea.

It is also announced that Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group – the largest IKEA Retail operator – is to join the Ventyr consortium, taking a 49 percent stake in the consortium. The Ventyr consortium was first established as a partnership between Belgian offshore wind developer and operator Parkwind and the Norwegian energy service company NorSea.

Driven by a clear commitment to help advance Norwegian renewable energy, Ingka Investments and the Belgian offshore wind developer and operator Parkwind have joined forces in the Ventyr consortium. Both partners have a long history in innovative and sustainable development of offshore wind and present a strong and ambitious combination of technical expertise and experience, financial strength and a long-term strategy.

After Ingka Investments enters the consortium, NorSea will remain a core partner in the Ventyr consortium providing a wide range of services to the owners Ingka Investments and Parkwind as they further strengthen their ambitions to develop the consortium into a successful player in Norwegian offshore wind.

For Ingka Investments this partnership is part of a EUR 6.5 billion initiative to support 100 percent renewable energy consumption across the IKEA value chain and beyond. Ingka Investments has invested and committed EUR 4 billion into renewable energy projects to date.

The consortium will now seek to progress their bid in the Sørlige Nordsjø II tender process to develop, build and operate the first large-scale bottom fixed offshore windfarm in Norway with a capacity up to 1.5 GW. The Sørlige Nordsjø II area is located in located in the south of the Norwegian North Sea.

About Ingka Group

With IKEA retail operations on 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on www.ingka.com.

About Parkwind

Parkwind is an integrated offshore wind business that develops, finances and operates offshore wind farms. Since July 2023, Parkwind has been operating as part of JERA Co., Inc. one of the largest power generational companies in the world. Together, Parkwind and JERA have more than a decade of experience and over 1,500 MW of offshore wind assets under operational management and construction in Belgium and Germany, the UK, Taiwan, and Japan, in addition to an extensive pipeline of offshore wind projects in development around the world including in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Norway, Greece, and Australia/New Zealand.

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

www.parkwind.eu / www.jera.co.jp

About NorSea:

NorSea has almost 60 years of history at the core of the Norwegian offshore industry. They are a significant owner of strategic port infrastructure and a complete provider of port services, base and logistics solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry, public enterprises, the aquaculture industry, the wind industry, and other maritime industries.

In recent years, NorSea has also built up an ever-increasing business in renewable industries such as offshore wind, offshore space, etc., and currently operate 9 supply bases and port facilities in Norway, as well as in Denmark, the United Kingdom and Canada. In 2023, NorSea will a turnover of almost. NOK 3 billion and around 1200 employees. NorSea is 99% owned by Wilh. Wilhelmsen and is thus an integral part of a large worldwide network within the maritime industry.

CLOSE

Maarten van der Horst

Project Director Oriel

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.

CLOSE

Wim Verrept

Risk, QHSSE, IT & Process 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.

CLOSE

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.

CLOSE

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).

CLOSE

Clément Helbig de Balzac

Project Manager of Arcadis

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.

CLOSE

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.

CLOSE

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.

CLOSE

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.

CLOSE

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, Parkwind’s controlling shareholder.

CLOSE

Peter Caluwaerts

Project Director

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.

CLOSE

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.

CLOSE

Francois Van Leeuw

co-CEO

He joined the nascent Parkwind as a CFO in 2009 and has been leading the financing and development of the four Belgian wind farms Belwind, Northwind, Nobelwind and Northwester 2. 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.