Aker Offshore Wind and Mainstream Renewable Power Selected as Preferred Bidder to Partner Together in Floating Offshore Wind Project in Japan
Aker Offshore Wind and global wind and solar company, Mainstream Renewable Power
(“Mainstream”) have together been selected as the preferred bidder to acquire an
initial 50 percent stake in Progression Energy’s 800MW floating offshore wind
project in Japan. The project is a well-formed early-stage development asset.
The two companies will now enter into exclusive negotiations with Progression
Energy with a view to establishing a special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) in the
coming weeks, to continue collectively developing the project. As a consortium,
the three companies bring together unique capabilities and experience through
Aker Offshore Wind’s offshore and floating expertise, Mainstream’s global
leadership position in offshore wind development and Progression Energy’s global
floating offshore wind development experience and strong position in Japan.
“In 2015, Progression recognized that floating offshore wind would become a
major segment of the offshore wind industry. Since that time, Progression has
originated floating projects in four markets globally,” said Chris Swartley, CEO
of Progression Energy. “Japan has set a goal of zero emissions by 2050 with a
strong focus on offshore wind. We are excited to bring Aker Offshore Wind and
Mainstream Renewable Power on board and believe the two companies, working in
partnership, bring a unique set of strengths that will be vital in helping us
advance our project to FID.”
“Having already developed 20 percent of the UK’s offshore wind capacity
currently in construction or operation, including the largest operational
offshore wind farm in the world today, we are thrilled to be partnering with
Aker Offshore Wind and Progression Energy to expand our growing offshore wind
footprint in the APAC region, where we believe we can add incremental value
through the decarbonisation of power that will have a positive impact on both
the local economy and renewables development more broadly,” said Cameron Smith,
Mainstream’s General Manager for APAC and Offshore.
“With our 180 years of industrial history and five decades in the offshore
industry through the Aker group of companies, we have the capabilities and the
competence to scale and industrialize floating wind in a sustainable way. By
partnering with Mainstream Renewable Power and Progression Energy, we have a
value proposition that is larger than the sum of its parts, which will position
us well in our aim to develop offshore wind in Japan,” said Tom Selwood, CFO of
Aker Offshore Wind.
Japan aims to expand offshore wind energy capacity to 10GW by 2030 and 30-45 GW
by 2040, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Project areas for offshore floating wind will be put to auction for interested
companies to submit their proposals.
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements in
Regulation EU 596/2014 and the Norwegian Securities Trading Act § 5-12.
This stock exchange announcement was published by Ivar Simensen, Communications,
on August 12, 2021 at CET 08:00.
For further information, please contact:
Ivar Simensen, Communication, Tel: +47 46 40 23 17,
ivar.simensen@akerhorizons.com
Maria Lanza Knudsen, Communications, Tel: +47 48 44 24 26,
maria.knudsen@akeroffshorewind.com
Christian Yggeseth, Investor Relations, Tel: +47 915 10 000,
christian.yggeseth@akerhorizons.com
About Aker Offshore Wind
Aker Offshore Wind Aker Offshore Wind is an offshore wind developer focused on
assets in deep waters and specialized on floating energy systems. With global
operations, the current portfolio consists of development projects and prospects
located in Asia, North America and Europe. Aker Offshore Wind effectively
deploys cost effective technologies from decades of offshore energy development.
The company is majority-owned by Aker Horizons, an investment company dedicated
to creating value and reducing emissions from renewable energy and
decarbonization technologies. Aker Offshore Wind [AOW-ME] is listed on Euronext
Growth in Oslo, Norway.
www.akeroffshorewind.com
About Mainstream Renewable Power
Mainstream Renewable Power is a leading pure-play renewable energy company with
a global footprint. The company is focused on expanding its high-quality
pipeline of more than 13 Gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar assets across Latin
America, Africa, Asia Pacific as well as the global offshore wind sector. In May
2021, it closed an agreement for Aker Horizons to take a 75% equity stake in the
company, enabling Mainstream to accelerate its global expansion plan to bring
5.5 GW of assets to financial close by 2023.
Mainstream has delivered more than 6.5 GW of wind and solar assets to financial
close, and currently has over 1.4 GW (net) in construction across Latin America
and Africa. In Chile, Mainstream’s wholly-owned 1.35 GW of fully contracted wind
and solar assets are on track to reach commercial operation from 2021. In
Africa, the company has delivered 842 MW of wind and solar assets into
commercial operation in South Africa, and further, through its Lekela Power
joint venture has 410 MW of wind assets in construction in Senegal and Egypt.
Mainstream is one of the most successful pure-play developers of offshore wind
at scale globally. It has successfully consented Hornsea One (1.2 GW), the
largest operational offshore wind plant in the world today; and developed the
Hornsea 2 project (1.4 GW) before selling these projects and the entire Zone in
2015. Overall, it has developed and later divested projects representing 20% of
the UK’s offshore wind capacity either in operation or under construction.
Mainstream fully consented the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind project in
Scotland, 450 MW, currently under construction. Mainstream’s Soc Trang 1.4 GW
offshore wind development in Vietnam is one of South East Asia’s largest
renewable energy developments.
Mainstream has raised more than EUR3.0bn in project finance to date and employs
more than 340 staff across five continents.
www.mainstreamrp.com
About Progression Energy
Progression Energy is a floating offshore wind developer with approximately 4GWs
of project assets across four markets. Progression’s development approach is
predicated on its early entry into markets that demonstrate a strong
geo-economic need for large-scale floating wind projects, and a
relationship-based development approach that initiates relationships with
communities and stakeholders well before project development begins, and
cultivates these relationships throughout project development, construction and
operations.
www.progression-energy.com
