<\/p>\n
Kongsberg CEO Geir H\u00e5\u00f8y explains how renewable energy will power the group\u2019s ambitious growth plans, with particular focus on consolidating a leading global position in offshore wind. With Nor-Shipping 2023 on the horizon, H\u00e5\u00f8y says #PartnerShip will help unlock value and drive development throughout the ocean space.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Geir H\u00e5\u00f8y\u00a0<\/strong>isn\u2019t the kind of CEO that suffers from over-enthusiastic language and grandiose promises. Instead, he speaks with a calm-headed clarity that is, appropriately enough for a man at the helm of a global technology group with 12,000 staff, extremely \u2018business-like\u2019.<\/p>\n As such, when he refers to the group\u2019s 2022 results, which revealed a record order backlog of NOK 63.5 billion, an order intake of NOK 45.15 billion and a 15.9% year-on-year climb in operating revenues, he uses the word \u201cgood\u201d.<\/p>\n Not \u201cfantastic\u201d, not \u201cincredible\u201d, but good. It\u2019s an understated approach that communicates a sense of \u2018solidity\u2019, or trust. In other words, he\u2019s not selling, he\u2019s telling.<\/p>\n Therefore, as he outlines Kongsberg’s plans for the renewable energy sector, with particular reference to offshore wind, it\u2019s clear he means exactly what he says.<\/p>\n And what he says screams opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cThe market for our solutions is growing here,\u201d H\u00e5\u00f8y states. \u201cIn 2022 we signed orders for around NOK 1.7 billion relating to the offshore wind market. But this is just the start. Our goal now is to grow that to achieve double-digit (NOK billion) group income from offshore wind and the renewables segment by 2030.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have the technology, solutions and ambition to enable a fast, safe and sustainable scale-up of renewable energy offshore. This is critical for the future \u2013 both our own, and that of our partners and customers worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n Kongsberg, H\u00e5\u00f8y argues, is uniquely placed to benefit from, and support, the forecasted explosion in offshore wind activity in the years to come (DNV\u2019s 2022 Energy Transition Outlook report stated the segment could grow \u201c56-fold\u201d between now and 2050). Grounded in over half a century of offshore energy experience, he says the group already has a portfolio \u201cspanning the renewables value chain\u201d to help customers seize on opportunity. This includes solutions stretching from outer space, with satellite technology, to the deep sea, with hydroacoustic and subsea mapping innovations, while all periods of windfarm operational lifecycles are catered for, from surveying and turbine installation through to maintenance, life extension and decommissioning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been involved in the industry from day one,\u201d H\u00e5\u00f8y notes, \u201cand that helps us to understand, and influence, its evolution, while tailoring our offering in line with the very latest needs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see that in the new generation of vessel orders we\u2019ve achieved success with.\u201d<\/p>\n H\u00e5\u00f8y says that any hope of realizing the industry\u2019s growth ambitions rests on an ability to install and service huge numbers of turbines (of ever-increasing sizes) as cost- and operationally-efficiently as possible. That requires large, and technologically advanced, vessels, capable of maximising operational weather windows in demanding offshore environments.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019re perfectly positioned to help,\u201d H\u00e5\u00f8y comments, pointing to a selection of orders that provide a neat snapshot of the latest industry developments.<\/p>\n For example, Kongsberg has been selected to supply technology and engineering for Cadeler\u2019s newbuild F-class wind turbine and foundation installation vessels.<\/strong> These two giant jack-up ships will be amongst the world\u2019s largest specialist offshore wind vessels, with the capacity to transport and install seven 15-MW turbine sets per load, minimizing the number of voyages per project. Kongsberg\u2019s remit includes a thruster package, electrical solutions and integrated controls, including dynamic positioning, and an array of cutting-edge digital tools. For many, Kongsberg\u2019s primary reputation is inextricably linked to either vessel deliveries (and especially pioneering dynamic positioning) or the world of defence (where the need for security in a changing geopolitical landscape is also driving current growth).<\/p>\n But, as previously alluded to, the group\u2019s offering is far, far broader, ranging from autonomous underwater vehicles (the HUGIN), through to environmental mapping and monitoring, digital solutions for more efficient industrial processes (e.g. advanced digital twins) and energy management systems.<\/p>\n These, H\u00e5\u00f8y says, have an important role to play for both the group\u2019s growth and the industry\u2019s transition \u2013 a belief underpinning the launch of a new entity last year; Kongsberg Renewable Technologies.<\/p>\n H\u00e5\u00f8y describes this as \u201csitting alongside\u201d the existing divisions to help facilitate the envisaged double-digit renewable growth. It will, he notes, provide \u201cfocus\u201d for a range of solutions that is already available throughout the group, while cementing a strong foundation for future developments and innovation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe existing group structure is aligned with specialist domain expertise,\u201d H\u00e5\u00f8y notes. \u201cWhat Kongsberg Renewables Technologies allows us to do is to bring together solutions from across the business that can help with the support, scaling-up and roll-out of renewable energy. He continues: \u201cStrategically we see this as a very important step. We always work closely with our customers and we believe this will help us, and them, unlock new opportunities in solid partnerships. We want to grow together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n maritime professional<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kongsberg CEO Geir H\u00e5\u00f8y explains how renewable energy will power the group\u2019s ambitious growth plans, with particular focus on consolidating a leading global position in offshore wind. With Nor-Shipping 2023 on the horizon, H\u00e5\u00f8y says #PartnerShip will help unlock value and drive development throughout the ocean space. Geir H\u00e5\u00f8y\u00a0isn\u2019t the kind of CEO that suffers …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maritime-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32978"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32978\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/32979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Similar contracts have also recently been secured with Integrated Wind Solutions (delivering equipment packages to newbuild Commissioning Service Operation Vessels, CSOVs), Sembcorp (technology for a Wind Turbine Installation Vessel) and Pelagic Wind Services (a NOK 300million contract including the design of a UT 5519 HL CSOV, a complete hybrid propulsion system and a comprehensive equipment package).
\u201cWe\u2019re leveraging existing experience with offshore oil and gas, while innovating for a new age of maritime wind power,\u201d H\u00e5\u00f8y stresses, adding; \u201cWe see it as a natural evolution for a company that has built its reputation on being an ocean space expert.\u201d
\u00a0
Renewable drive<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a market demand for our expertise and solutions \u2013 and we\u2019re seeing that more and more in offshore wind, and especially floating offshore wind, where we see huge potential. So, it makes sense to strengthen what we have, while also providing the platform for new developments, alliances and acquisitions.\u201d<\/p>\n