Kongsberg CEO Geir Håøy explains how renewable energy will power the group’s ambitious growth plans, with particular focus on consolidating a leading global position in offshore wind. With Nor-Shipping 2023 on the horizon, Håøy says #PartnerShip will help unlock value and drive development throughout the ocean space.
Geir Håøy isn’t 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 ‘business-like’.
As such, when he refers to the group’s 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 “good”.
Not “fantastic”, not “incredible”, but good. It’s an understated approach that communicates a sense of ‘solidity’, or trust. In other words, he’s not selling, he’s telling.
Therefore, as he outlines Kongsberg's plans for the renewable energy sector, with particular reference to offshore wind, it’s clear he means exactly what he says.
And what he says screams opportunity.
“The market for our solutions is growing here,” Håøy states. “In 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.
“We 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 – both our own, and that of our partners and customers worldwide.”
Kongsberg, Håøy argues, is uniquely placed to benefit from, and support, the forecasted explosion in offshore wind activity in the years to come (DNV’s 2022 Energy Transition Outlook report stated the segment could grow “56-fold” between now and 2050). Grounded in over half a century of offshore energy experience, he says the group already has a portfolio “spanning the renewables value chain” 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.
“We’ve been involved in the industry from day one,” Håøy notes, “and that helps us to understand, and influence, its evolution, while tailoring our offering in line with the very latest needs.
“You can see that in the new generation of vessel orders we’ve achieved success with.”
Håøy says that any hope of realizing the industry’s 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.
“That’s where we’re perfectly positioned to help,” Håøy comments, pointing to a selection of orders that provide a neat snapshot of the latest industry developments.
For example, Kongsberg has been selected to supply technology and engineering for Cadeler’s newbuild F-class wind turbine and foundation installation vessels. These two giant jack-up ships will be amongst the world’s 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’s remit includes a thruster package, electrical solutions and integrated controls, including dynamic positioning, and an array of cutting-edge digital tools.
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).
“We’re leveraging existing experience with offshore oil and gas, while innovating for a new age of maritime wind power,” Håøy stresses, adding; “We see it as a natural evolution for a company that has built its reputation on being an ocean space expert.”
Renewable drive
For many, Kongsberg’s 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).
But, as previously alluded to, the group’s 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.
These, Håøy says, have an important role to play for both the group’s growth and the industry’s transition – a belief underpinning the launch of a new entity last year; Kongsberg Renewable Technologies.
Håøy describes this as “sitting alongside” the existing divisions to help facilitate the envisaged double-digit renewable growth. It will, he notes, provide “focus” for a range of solutions that is already available throughout the group, while cementing a strong foundation for future developments and innovation.
“The existing group structure is aligned with specialist domain expertise,” Håøy notes. “What 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.
“There’s a market demand for our expertise and solutions – and we’re 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.”
He continues: “Strategically 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.”
