Two bids are received for Norway's floating wind tender

Two consortiums submitted bids for the first Norwegian tender to build commercial offshore floating wind farms, according to the Energy Ministry.

In May, Norway launched a process to invite bids from firms or groups to secure rights to develop commercial project of up to 500 Megawatts (MW), at the Utsira Nord Site off the south-west coast of the country.

Terje Aasland, Energy Minister Terje's statement said that offshore wind was one of the Government's priorities to ensure sufficient power in the future.

The government expects to announce a winner in the first round of bidding during the first half 2026.

The selected participants then have two years to complete their projects, before they compete in a subsidy auction in 2028-2029. Subsidies will be awarded as direct grants to only one bidder.

According to the ministry, there were two groups of applicants: one consisting of Equinor, Eni Vaargronn and Deep Wind Offshore Norway AS, and another made up of EDF Renouvelables International and Deep Wind Offshore Norway AS. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, with Nora Buli)

(source: Reuters)