IKM Group, and NorSea Group – fully owned by Wilhelmsen takes over 95 % of the ownership of Energy Innovation in Egersund, with CEO / Managing Partner Frank Emil Moen keeping 5 %. The aim is to strengthen the position in offshore wind by building competence and market position.
IKM and NorSea will jointly own Energy Innovation and will strengthen Energy Innovation’s role as a national competence center for the training and certification of wind technicians.
John E. Stangeland – CEO NorSea Group
Group CEOs John Stangeland in NorSea and Ståle Kyllingstad in IKM say the acquisition will consolidate and develop both groups’ ambitions in offshore wind:
Ståle Kyllingstad – CEO IKM Group
“When offshore wind is fully developed on the Norwegian continental shelf, considerable expertise and capacity are needed to ensure value creation in Norway in all phases, from planning and development to long-term operation of the facilities. The future perspective for wind energy in Europe involves tens of thousands of jobs for operators and wind technicians and a great demand for professionals in mechanical and electrical fields. We will play a role there,” say Kyllingstad and Stangeland.
Energy Innovation runs GWO training and certification for personell working in the wind industry, both onshore and offshore, as well as education of wind technicians and blade technicians.
“We have great faith in the importance of wind power for energy supply and for the opportunities this will provide for industrial and supply chain development both in Norway and internationally. Now we jointly take responsibility for meeting the need for qualified personnel. It gives Energy Innovation a larger capital base with the opportunity to strengthen the staff, expand the course business and develop the business,” says Kyllingstad.
“In August, NorSea signed a ground-breaking contract with four universities in Belgium and Norway on the development and sharing of expertise within Norway’s next industrial adventure; Offshore Wind. Now we continue and complete the chain by developing competence at all levels, from skilled workers and technicians to doctorates and professors. As two solid groups, NorSea and IKM can contribute to building the organization for Energy Innovation,” says Stangeland.
Frank Emil Moen – CEO / Managing Partner Energy Innovation
Frank Emil Moen, CEO and Managing partner of Energy Innovation, says that he is very satisfied with the change of ownership and retains a smaller stake in the company: “Wilhelmsen-owned NorSea and IKM Group are very solid, industrial groups that invest aggressively in offshore wind, other renewable technology and sustainability. This will strengthen the position of Energy Innovation both nationally and internationally, and ensure a further strengthen the triple helix competence center Egersund Energy Hub.”
Moen says the ambition is for Egersund to be Norway’s leading center with global ambitions that reinforces Rogaland as a region that takes green shift in business and education seriously.
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About Energy Innovation: Energy Innovation has established Egersund Energy Hub, an industry and innovation cluster for training, certification, education, research, development and innovation within on- and offshore wind in particular, and renewable energy and environmental technology in general. Energy Innovation is now developing a global franchise for GWO certification and technical education with the first center in operation in New York as early as spring 2023. A number of other centers are being planned both in Europe and in the USA. => ww.energyinnovation.no
About IKM: IKM’s ambition is to be the largest, most complete and most competitive service provider within the energy sector. IKM Gruppen currently employs over 2,900 employees and will have a turnover of NOK 5 billion in 2022. IKM consists of two legal groups, IKM Gruppen and IKM Invest AS. => www.ikm.com
About NorSea: NorSea has nearly 60 years of history. The Wilhelmsen-owned group is a complete supplier of port services, base and logistics solutions within both the oil and gas industry, the aquaculture industry, the wind industry and other maritime industries. In recent years, NorSea has built up an ever-increasing business within the renewable industry, such as offshore wind. The group’s turnover in 2022 is approximately NOK 2.5 billion and with close to 1,300 employees. => www.norseagroup.com