Equinor opens subsea marine robotics test centre at Norwegian processing facility

Equinor opened a new facility in Norway on October 28, 2026, for testing, qualifying, and developing marine robotic technologies. Offshore Energy reported that the Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre, known as KNARR, was opened by Eileen Fugelsnes, the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education. [1]

The facility is located at the Kårstø processing plant in Tysvær on the west coast of Norway. According to Offshore Energy, the centre includes three test areas designed for subsea drones, robots, and unmanned vessels. [1]

Offshore Energy reported that the centre extends several established early phase technology testing sites. It is one of the first facilities of its kind worldwide connected directly to an operational plant, allowing developers to test equipment inside a working environment. [1]

Robots are computer programmable machines built to execute complex series of actions automatically, with most prioritizing functional task performance over aesthetic form. Petroleum extraction remains a central component of the Norwegian economy, driving national exports and government revenues. [2][4]