Offshore Wind Insight
This site provides the latest news and insights within the Norwegian offshore wind development.
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Latest news
- Norwegian Ministry of Energy Allocates Project Areas for Floating Offshore Wind in Utsira Nord
- Changes to the Investment Support Agreement for Utsira Nord – Key Takeaways and Mechanisms
- Strategic impact assessment for new offshore wind areas published – good opportunities in several locations
- The Competition for Utsira Nord is opened
- ESA approves Norwegian model for floating offshore wind in Utsira Nord
- Big step forward for the offshore wind industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf
- Enova awards 1.2 Billion NOK for pioneering offshore wind project
- Strategic impact assessment for offshore wind in the areas Sørvest F, Vestavind B and Vestavind F for public consultation
- The Norwegian Government will propose a cap of NOK 35 billion on state aid for the first floating offshore wind project
- New proposal for state aid for the first floating offshore wind areas in Norway
- The consortium Ventyr has won the competition for Sørlige Nordsjø II first phase
- These consortiums are qualified to participate in the SN II-Auction on March 18, 2024
- Authorities solicit consultation replies on proposed health and safety regime for offshore wind in Norway
- EFTA Surveillance Authority approves aid for an offshore wind farm at Sørlige Nordsjø II
- Proposal for amedments to the administrative process for offshore wind
- Seven consortiums seek prequalification for SN II
- The MPE has published the final CfD for SN II
- Delayed deadlines and changes to the SN II and UN competitions
- The MPE proposes to except offshore wind applications and the MPE’s evaluation of the applications from the public
- Key changes to the draft Contracts for Difference for Sørlige Nordsjø II
- Changes to the competition for the Sørlige Nordsjø II area and new signals from the Parliament
- New areas for renewable energy production at sea on the horizon!
- Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord: Comments to the criteria for pre-qualification on Sørlige Nordsjø II and the qualitative competition criteria for Utsira Nord
- New state aid framework may speed up investment in offshore wind power and other renewable energy production
- Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord: Comments to Grid Solution
- Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord: Comments to CfD auction and support scheme
- The Norwegian Government announces the first competitions for offshore wind
- Offshore Wind: First major deadline January 6
- Changes in the Offshore Energy Act.
- Norway sets ambitious goals for offshore wind
- Today the Norwegian government presented further clarifications regarding the development of Norway’s offshore wind sector.
- New foreign direct investment regime in the UK: what foreign investors need to know
- Central detailing of the offshore wind regulatory regime
- White Paper on Norway’s energy resources
- Key components for Norway’s offshore wind sector
- Annual Report Renewable Energy 2020
- Investment opportunities in the Norwegian electricity sector
- Norwegian offshore wind and the recent state budget proposal
- Amendments to the regulatory framework on grid investment contributions
- New standard contract for procurement to the Norwegian Continental Shelf – Norwegian Conditions for Purchase 2016
- Financial challenges in the offshore industry
- The Nordic Energy Market Outlook
- New Norwegian Offshore Standard Contracts – NTK 15 MOD
Areas open for offshore wind
The Norwegian Government has currently opened two areas for offshore wind production, namely «Utsira Nord» and «Sørlige Nordsjø II». Click on the information button on the map below to read more about the two.
Utsira Nord
Utsira Nord (UN) is located in the North Sea, west of the Utsira island, close to the cities Haugesund and Stavanger. The area was opened for offshore wind in 2020, and is due to its depths suitable for floating installations. The Government has opened the area for 1,500 MW, divided into three sub-areas of 500 MW each, and the areas were awarded based on qualitative criteria. The award was initially scheduled for the end of 2023 but was postponed due to delays in obtaining state aid approval from the EFTA Surveillance Authority. The competition opened in May 2025, with the application deadline on 15 September 2025. In December 2025, project area 2 was awarded to Equinor Utsira Nord AS and Vårgrønn Utsira Nord AS, while Harald Hårfagre AS (Deep Wind Offshore Norway AS and EDF Renouvelables International SAS) was awarded project area 3.
UN will be connected to the Norwegian onshore grid through a production radial, and the radial shall be constructed, owned and operated by the developers at the developer’s cost.
The Government has stated that the installed capacity may be increased to up to 750 MW each, based on NVEs upcoming report on new areas for offshore wind, and that the option to expand will be concluded before the competition for financial support. Following the award of the sub-areas, the awarded parties will compete for a support scheme in the form of investment support of up to NOK 35 billion.
Sørlige Nordsjø II
Sørlige Nordsjø II (SN II) is located in the southern part of the the Norwegian continental shelf in the North Sea. SN II is due to the low ocean depths well suited for bottom-fixed offshore wind installations. This area is opened for up to 3000 MW offshore wind, with the eastern part of the area opened in the first development phase with a maximum installed capacity of 1500 MW, and a minimum capacity of 1400 MW.
The first phase of SN II was awarded through an auction based on a two-way contract for difference (CfD) mechanism. Five applicants were prequalified to participate in the auction which was held in March 2024. Ventyr SN II AS, a consortium consisting of Parkwind and Ingka Investments, won the auction with the lowest bid of 115 øre/kWh, securing exclusive rights to develop the first phase of the project. The CfD was signed with the Norwegian Government in April 2024, enabling Ventyr to proceed with project-specific assesments and licence applications.
The Norwegian Government has opened up for the possibility to combine the development with electrification of the Ekofisk field.
The grid solution for SN II first phase will be a radial with a connection at Kvinesdal as the primary location. The radial shall be constructed, owned and operated by the developer at the developer’s cost.
Opening of new areas
The Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate (NVE) has been tasked by the Government to identify new areas for offshore wind production suitable for up to 30 GW offshore wind, in addition to the two recently opened areas, Sørlige Nordsjø II (bottom fixed installations) and Utsira Nord (floating installations). NVE has in its report published on 25 April 2023 identified 20 areas that are suitable for offshore wind, and proposed expansions of Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II. NVE proposes that the areas are subject to further examinations in order to find the best suitable areas for offshore wind.
On 14 September 2023, the Government has stated that new areas for offshore wind will be opened by 2025. These are Sørvest F and Vestavind F, who are expansions of the initial areas at Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord respectively, as well as Vestavind B. The location of these areas follow from the map below:
