Pre-festival events
Site visits
May 19th-20th
Build your knowledge and network in offshore wind at Site Visits in Norway!
Join us in one of the world leading areas in offshore wind for unique days of knowledge and exclusive network building, socialising, inspiration, and insight! Meet up with delegations from all over the world, visit leading organisations and tour key assembly sites in offshore wind.
Site Visit
Monday, May 19th
Trip 1
Experience Utsira - Coexistence with Offshore Wind
Discover Utsira, Norway’s smallest municipality and future home of the world’s largest floating wind park. Join us for valuable insights into floating wind at the national, regional, and local level in Norway.
Just 18 km off the Norwegian coast, the small island of Utsira is a unique blend of rich maritime history, vibrant street art, and a diverse birdlife. As Norway accelerates its offshore wind ambitions, places like Utsira stand at the heart of discussions on co-existence — how can renewable energy projects integrate with local industries, communities, and marine ecosystems.
This exclusive visit offers a unique opportunity to experience life on the island, meet local stakeholders, and explore how offshore wind can be developed in harmony with coastal communities. You’ll visit key locations and hear directly from those who live and work on Utsira.
Programme - Experience Utsira, Monday 19th May
Registration, coffee & mingling
Bus to ferry quay to depart for Utsira
Lunch at Dalanaustet
Guided programme on the island, including three themed stops focused on co-existence and transition.
Valuable insights into floating wind at the national, regional, and local levels in Norway from Rogaland County Council, Norwegian Offshore Wind, Haugaland Vekst and local stakeholders.
Refreshments and international networking
Boat departure from Utsira
Arrival Haugesund and return to hotel/town centre
Beprepared for Norwegian coastal weather
The site visit includes ferry transport, as well as outdoor elements, so practical clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended. Expect varying weather conditions, and dress accordingly—business attire is not required
Organisers: These site visits are arranged in collaboration with Invest in Rogaland, Haugaland Vekst, Visit Haugesund and Utsira Business Network.
Tour price: 1000 NOK per person
Site Visits
Tuesday, May 20th
Trip 2
Offshore Wind Supply Chain Day & METCentre
Norway is home to a world-leading offshore wind supply chain, with deep expertise in marine engineering, fabrication, and offshore operations. You will meet major industry players driving the sector forward and visit key sites in the region, including ports, yards and key suppliers such as Aibel, Reach Subsea and Karmsund Port Authority at Husøy.
The day offers a closer look at different parts of the offshore wind value chain. You’ll visit Reach Subsea and explore their advanced remote operations centre, hear how Karmsund Port is developing a large-scale assembly site for wind components, and learn how Aibel’s long-standing experience with HVDC platforms has made offshore wind part of the local skyline in Haugesund. Along the way, you’ll also gain insight into how Norway’s green maritime innovation is influencing offshore wind development, with presentations from Maritime CleanTech and key suppliers.
In the late afternoon, the group will gather for an early dinner at Mortholmen, a restored historic herring processing plant overlooking the sea. The meal will showcase local ingredients from ocean and land, prepared with a modern twist and served in scenic maritime surroundings.
The day concludes with an optional boat trip to the Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre) off the coast of Karmøy, Norway’s foremost test site for floating offshore wind. For those staying on land, the return to Haugesund begins after dinner.
Programme - Offshore Wind Supply Chain & METCentre tour, Tuesday 20th May
Registration and coffee
Pioneering uncrewed subsea operations
Presentation and control centre visit showcasing Reach Remote, an uncrewed vessel and remote operations service for low-emission offshore wind support.
Chasing zero for maritime operations in offshore wind
Chaired by Maritime CleanTech, this session highlights low-emission vessel solutions from Norwegian suppliers driving offshore wind toward net-zero.
Corvus Energy: Technology is ready for zero in offshore wind maritime operations
Seaonics: Offshore charging-tech development
Source Galileo: Experience from attracting international investors for floating offshore wind green transition
Karmsund Port and the future of offshore wind
Presentation on Karmsund Port’s role in offshore wind, including the new Karmsund Wind project, followed by a guided tour of the cargo terminals.
From heritage to offshore wind: dinner and dialogue at Mortholmen
Gather at Mortholmen, a beautifully restored herring processing plant by the sea, for an early dinner featuring local ingredients and informal networking. The venue is owned by fisherman Sig Hansen, known from The Deadliest Catch, and offers a unique maritime setting for international exchange.
Aibel’s offshore wind journey
During dinner at Mortholmen, Aibel will share how offshore wind has become a central part of their business, with renewables making up around half of their order backlog in recent years. The company has delivered key infrastructure to projects such as Dogger Bank and Hornsea, and is now positioning for the next phase of offshore wind development.
Optional visit to the METCentre test site
Join an evening boat trip to the Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre), Norway’s leading test site for floating offshore wind. Get a close-up view of the turbines and learn how the site supports technology development and industrial scale-up.
Optional boat trip to METCentre, including insights into floating windtesting and development
Estimated arrival in Haugesund (without METCentre)
Estimated arrival Haugesund (with METCentre)
Be prepared for Norwegian coastal weather
The site visit includes boat transport, as well as outdoor elements, so practical clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended. Expect varying weather conditions, and dress accordingly — business attire is not required
Organisers: This site visit is arranged in collaboration with Invest in Rogaland, Haugaland Vekst and Visit Haugesund.
Tour price: 1000 NOK per person
FWD Networking bar at Høvleriet
Pre-and post-festival events
Secure your ticket & accommodation in one easy transaction!
We've reserved nearly all hotel rooms in the area at unbeatable rates. You can book your accomodation when you purchase your ticket.
There are limited places on this pre-festival site visit programme so book soon!
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