Timeline
The Norwegian Government has set ambitious goals for the development of offshore wind. Below follows a timeline for offshore wind based on the Government’s current plan. The milestones below reflect the timelines in the tenders for Utsira Nord (UN) and Sørlige Nordsjø II (SN II) first phase, published March 29, 2023.
Publication of the tender for the first phase of SN II
The tender for the first phase of SN II was published on March 29, 2023, with a goal of awarding the sub-areas by december 2023.
The tender documents can be found here: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/energi/landingssider/havvind/sorlige-nordsjo-ii/id2967231/
Transcript of the Minister of Petroleum and Energy’s speech can be found here: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/olje-og-energiministerens-innlegg-pa-pressekonferanse-om-utlysning-av-omrader-for-havvind/id2969632/
Publication of the tender for UN
The tender for UN was published on March 29, 2023, with a goal of awarding the sub-areas by December 2023.
See tender documents at the Norwegian Government`s website here: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/energi/landingssider/havvind/utsira-nord/id2967232/
Transcript of the Minister of Petroleum and Energy’s speach can be found here: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/olje-og-energiministerens-innlegg-pa-pressekonferanse-om-utlysning-av-omrader-for-havvind/id2969632/
2023
NVE’s report on new areas for offshore wind
NVE published its findings on new areas suitable for minimum 30 GW offshore wind on April 25, 2023. NVE has identified 20 new areas for offshore wind.
NVE’s findings can be found here: https://veiledere.nve.no/havvind/identifisering-av-utredningsomrader-for-havvind/ (Norwegian only)
Period for submission of questions regarding SN II and UN
The Government has stated that interested parties may submit questions regarding the tender process for SN II first phase and for UN from April 17 – June 1, 2023.
The questions must be submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to this e-mail: havvind@oed.dep.no. Questions and answers will be published anonymous on the MPEs website regarding UN and SN II: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/energi/landingssider/havvind/sporsmal-og-svar-om-utsira-nord-og-sorlige-nordsjo-ii/id2975726/
Deadline for submission of prequalification application for SN II first phase
The interested parties in the first phase of SN II must submit a prequalification application within November 15, 2023 at 12:00. The prequalification application shall be submitted digitally through the Government’s online portal for offshore wind. The Government will publish a link to the portal on the website for SN II prior to the deadline: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/energi/landingssider/havvind/sorlige-nordsjo-ii/id2967231/
Prequalification of potential bidders for SN II
The interested parties in the first phase of SN II will be subject to prequalification, and the Government has stated that the prequalification will take place in January 2024.
Award of the first phase of SN II
The first phase of SN II was awarded to Ventyr (Parkwind and Ingka) on March 20 2024, with a winning bid of 1,15 NOK/kWh.
Deadline for submission of application for subareas within UN
The MPE has in a press release on October 17 stated that the application deadline for UN will be in Q1 2024, and stated that it will announce a new deadline as soon as possible.
Award of UN subareas
The Government has postponed the competition for UN, and it is as of now uncertain when the award will take place.
Notification of project
After the first phase of SN II and UN are awarded, the winning Company must submit a notification of its offshore wind project as well as a project specific impact study programme within six weeks from the award of an area.
The MPE has given signals that the notification and impact study programme might be included in the license application, and thus be struck out as a independent licensing step. We are expecting this to be concluded on by the MPE shortly.
2024
Competition for support schemes for Utsira Nord
The Government has stated that there will be a competition for support schemes (CfD) for the Utsira Nord projects, and that one of the projects at Utsira Nord will not receive support schemes. We expect that the Government will give further clarification on the support schemes and timeline for the competition prior to the award of areas.
2025
Opening of new areas
The Government’s ongoing work with finding new areas suitable for offshore wind will lead up to a larger bidding process for new areas in 2025.
Support scheme for UN approved by ESA
ESA approved the Norwegian scheme for government support for floating offshore wind at Utsira Nord. Read more about the content of the approved scheme here
Announcement of the competition for UN project areas
The Ministry of Energy announced the opening of the competition for three project areas of 500 MW within Utsira Nord
Deadline for written questions regarding competition tender documents
Companies considering participation in the competition for UN project areas has until June 15 to submit questions about the competition documents
Information meeting for stakeholders in UN
The working group “Infrastructure and Offshore Grid” under the Offshore Wind Collaboration Forum is organizing an informational meeting for stakeholders about the licensing process and grid connection of Utsira Nord on June 16th from 12:00 to 16:00 at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (Næringslivets hus).
Deadline for feedback on the draft investment support agreement for UN
Completion of strategic environmental impact assessment for new areas for offshore wind
Application deadline for UN
Contestants are to submit their submission for application by no later than September 15, 2025.
Deadline for submission in the public consultation of the strategic environmental impact assessment for new offshore wind areas
NVE has completed a strategic EIA for new areas for offshore wind. The EIA is up for public consultation until 1 October 2025.
Submissions are to be submitted on the Ministry of Energy’s webpage
2026
Deadline for license application and detailed plan
According to the MPE’s guideline for offshore wind, the license application for a specific project must be submitted within two years from the notification of the project. Clarifications on the deadline are to be expected prior to the awarding of the UN and SN II areas.
Tentative allocation of project areas for UN
The tentative time period for the allocation of project areas for UN is set to first half 2026
2027
Awarding of licenses for SN II
According to the MPE’s guideline, the processing time for a license application will be approximately one year. Awarding of the licenses for the first phase of Sørlige Nordsjø II (“SN II”) are expected by first quarter 2027.
The MPE’s decision can be subject to appeal to the King in Council for final decision. We are expecting that clarifications on the licensing process will be in place prior to the award of the opened areas.
Awarding of licenses for UN
According to the MPE’s guideline, the processing time for a license application will be approximately one year. Awarding of the licenses for Utsira Nord (“UN”) are expected around first quarter 2027.
The MPE’s decision can be subject to appeal to the King in Council for final decision. We are expecting that clarifications on the licensing process will be in place prior to the award of the opened areas.
2030
First projects in operation
There is an overall ambition to have the first projects in operation within 2030 and 30 000 MW awarded within 2040.