Two Applications to Participate in the Competition for Floating Offshore Wind in Utsira Nord

'It is encouraging that two consortia, consisting of strong players, have applied to take part in the competition for floating offshore wind in Utsira Nord,' said Minister of Energy Terje Aasland.

In May this year, the Ministry announced a competition for the allocation of project areas for floating offshore wind in Utsira Nord.

'Offshore wind is one of the government's key focus areas to ensure sufficient power supply in the years ahead. During the development phase, floating offshore wind in Utsira Nord will play an important role in advancing technology and reducing costs. By investing in offshore wind, we are also laying a solid foundation for Norwegian suppliers to compete in the development of future offshore wind projects,' said Terje Aasland.

Applicants are required to demonstrate that they meet the qualification criteria. In addition, applications will be assessed against the following qualitative criteria:

1. Cost level, realism and project maturity
2. Innovation and technological development
3. Execution capability
4. Sustainability
5. Positive ripple effects

The Ministry plans to allocate project areas during the first half of 2026.

Consortia and companies that have applied:

• Equinor Utsira Nord AS and Vårgrønn Utsira Nord AS
• Harald Hårfagre AS (Deep Wind Offshore Norway AS and EDF Renouvelables International SAS)

The Norwegian Government has an ambition to allocate areas for 30,000 MW of offshore wind production by 2040. In 2024, the first offshore wind project area, Sørlige Nordsjø II, was awarded to Ventyr. The project areas in Utsira Nord are suitable exclusively for floating offshore wind technology.

The allocation process of offshore wind project areas and associated state aid will be carried out in two stages, with a maturation phase in between. In the first stage, three project areas will be awarded to the applicants who achieve the highest score in a competition based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria.

The competition for state aid support will take place after the maturation phase. To be eligible to participate, applicants must have submitted a licence application and provided a bank guarantee to enter the auction. The auction will only be held if at least two applicants meet the requirements.

One applicant will be awarded state aid, and the winner will be the one who bids the lowest level of financial support to realise their project.

Bids exceeding the maximum support cap of NOK 35 billion, as set by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), will not be accepted.

The winning bidder will be required to develop a project as close to 500 MW as possible, depending on the selected turbine size. Applicants who do not receive state support may apply to extend their exclusive rights to the project area in accordance with the Offshore Energy Act.