Suppliers to the Norwegian renewable-energy sector will get financial help from three ministries in January 2009, as politicians set out to copy the success abroad of the country’s oil and gas industry.

The Norwegian Oil and Energy Department, Ministry of Trade and Foreign Ministry will back the creation of new export enabling arm dubbed INTPOW, with country offices in key markets to inform and partner the Norwegian renewable energy and electricity-generating supply chain.

Government leaders said they would model INTPOW — or Norwegian Renewable Energy Partners — after INTSOK, a wildly successful agent of the oil and gas supply chain.

Norway lags behind Scandinavian powerhouse Denmark in, at least, wind power exports.

“We’re going to deliver when it comes to wind power,” said State Secretary for Energy, Liv Monica Stubholt, who said she was working on creating a new legal framework to foster offshore and onshore wind power.

Norwegian renewable energy equipment and services providers “have been fragmented”, according to a speaker announcing INTPOW start-up next year. He said 70,000 Norwegian jobs were somehow connected to energy production in all its forms. More jobs were expected in future, as newly rejuvenated Norwegian export credit lenders take aim at projects involving Norwegian suppliers abroad.

The speaker, who Scandoil.com failed to name, reminded the Energy Council meeting that INTSOK, the oil and gas industry’s agency, saw its budget shoot up six-fold to 95 billion kroner ($12.7 billion) after 10 years and 180 members.

The new INTPOW will be “steered by the needs of its members” although it’ll get stately “day-to-day” financial help.