Seven applications received for participation in auction for offshore wind in Sørlige Nordsjø II

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has received seven applications for participation in the auction for project area for offshore wind in Sørlige Nordsjø II. The fact that several strong actors show interest in the development of offshore wind on the Norwegian shelf is positive. The ministry will now start processing the applications.

’Despite significant cost increases for the global offshore wind industry lately, several strong actors have applied for participating in the auction round. This is an important signal for the government's offshore wind efforts. We now start assessing the applications’, said Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland.

In the call for applications, the ministry has stated a minimum of six and a maximum of eight applicants to be pre-qualified. If fewer than six of the applicants can be pre-qualified, the ministry will consider whether to proceed with the auction.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced the first competitions for project areas for offshore wind on the Norwegian continental shelf on 29 March this year. The deadline for applications to the auction for Sørlige Nordsjø II was 15 November at 12:00 P.M.

In their applications, the applicants must document that they meet the minimum criteria regarding sustainability and positive ripple effects. Furthermore, the applicants will be assessed on the pre-qualification criterion concerning execution capability.

The ministry will announce the result of the pre-qualification process as soon as possible. Tentatively, the auction date will be in February 2024.

Consortia and companies that have applied:

  • Aker Offshore Wind, BP and Statkraft
  • Equinor and RWE
  • Hydroelectric Corporation
  • Mingyang Smart Energy
  • Norseman Wind
  • Parkwind and Ingka
  • Shell, Lyse and Eviny

Background

Norway has an ambition to allocate areas for 30,000 MW of offshore wind production by 2040. The first areas for renewable energy production at sea on the Norwegian continental shelf were opened in 2020. Since then, the authorities have been working closely with the industry and other stakeholders to establish the regulations. The first project areas for offshore wind at Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II were announced on 29 March 2023.