There seems no lack of ambitious for offshore wind development in northern Europe, as a long-term offshore wind tender plan outlines future projects
The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) published a timeline for offshore wind tenders towards 2028, outlining the massive ambitions for offshore wind development in Northern Europe. NSEC consists of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, in addition to the European Commission. Here are the highlights and some key take aways from the update if you missed them:
- An aim to award sites with a capacity up to 70 GW towards 2030, with the Netherlands (16.7 GW), Germany (12.5 GW), France (10.5 + GW) and Denmark (8.8 + GW) among the biggest contributors to future rounds.
- France set a tentative timeline for the start of an 8-10 GW offshore wind auction, starting end of 2024. The proposed round would potentially double the country’s offshore wind capacity. A public consultation for possible priority areas for offshore wind development for the next 10 years was launched today and will run until Apr 26. 2024.
- Ireland outlined a long-term timeline for a total of eight future auctions, and among these, two being for state selected sites offering a total of 2 GW and two rounds with the intention to support floating offshore wind and hydrogen production. Additional four rounds are scheduled between 2026 and 2030.
- Denmark has slightly adjusted (0.5- 1 years) the timeline for future offshore wind tenders, compared to previously signaled dates, with the rounds for the Bornholm Energy Island, Nordsøen and Hesselø sites now expected to open H2 2024, and Kattegat and Kriegers Flak II expected in 2025.
- Future auctions for both Norway and Sweden were missing from the roadmap, with Norway only listed with the ongoing Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II projects. Sweden currently has an open-door system in place, with aims to present specific areas for offshore wind.
Both Ireland and the Netherlands are expected to update their long-term plans for offshore wind development at the start of 2024. Ireland is expected to present refined areas designated for future offshore wind development, and the Netherlands will outline areas for development after 2031.
Image Credit: RWE
