Norwegian Consortium Awarded Research Funding to Develop Low-Carbon Concrete Foundations

Ill. The BetongVIND project will develop and test technology for industrial‑scale production of gravity‑based concrete foundations (GBS).

(IN BRIEF) The BetongVIND project has received NOK 11 million in funding from the Research Council of Norway to develop industrial-scale production technology for gravity-based concrete foundations used in offshore wind. Led by AF Gruppen and supported by partners including Multiconsult, DOF, Semar, and NTNU, the project aims to replace bespoke foundation designs with a standardised, automated production model. The initiative targets significant cost reductions and up to 80 percent lower CO₂ emissions, with the goal of strengthening Europe’s offshore wind supply chain and supporting large-scale deployment from 2026 onward.

(PRESS RELEASE) OSLO, 7-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — A consortium led by AF Gruppen has secured NOK 11 million in funding from the Research Council of Norway to advance the BetongVIND project, an initiative focused on enabling industrial-scale production of gravity-based concrete foundations for offshore wind turbines.

The project brings together a group of Norwegian and international industry and research partners, including Multiconsult, DOF, Semar, and NTNU. Together, the partners aim to develop and test a standardised production concept for gravity-based concrete foundations (GBS) that can support large-scale offshore wind deployment in Europe.

As offshore wind projects move into deeper waters and turbine sizes continue to increase, the industry is facing rising costs, more complex seabed conditions, and intensifying international competition. BetongVIND is designed to respond to these challenges by replacing bespoke foundation designs with an industrialised production model that improves efficiency, reduces risk, and strengthens supply-chain resilience.

The funding will be used to further develop fabrication techniques, increase automation, optimise material usage, and streamline production and installation logistics. According to the project partners, these improvements have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent compared with current foundation solutions, while also enabling scalable series production with a lower environmental footprint.

Project manager Eirik Lind Hånes of AF Gruppen said the ambition is to establish a competitive and sustainable value chain for bottom-fixed offshore wind foundations. He noted that support from the Research Council of Norway enables the development of a production method that can reduce costs and risks for offshore wind developers, while giving the Norwegian supply industry a clear competitive advantage.

With a total project budget exceeding NOK 20 million, BetongVIND is scheduled to start in January 2026. The consortium expects the project to contribute to technology development not only for Norwegian offshore wind initiatives, but also for international projects seeking cost-effective and low-carbon foundation solutions.

Media Contact:

Eirik Lind Hånes
Project Manager Offshore Wind
AF Offshore Decom AS
+47 454 53 451
EirikLind.Hanes@afgruppen.no

SOURCE: AF Gruppen