In 2025, the Norwegian government announced a competition for three project sites in the Utsira Nord area, off the coast of Rogaland, each capable of supporting up to 500 megawatts of floating offshore wind capacity. The initiative, launched to bolster renewable energy production, was opened for offshore renewable energy projects on June 12, 2020.

Norway aims to allocate areas for up to 30GW of production by 2040.

The government will assign project areas and provide financial support through a two-phase process. In the first phase, three sites will be awarded based on criteria including cost, project feasibility, innovation, execution capability, sustainability, and positive economic impacts. Applications are due by September 15, 2025, with awards expected in the first half of 2026. Following a maturation phase, a second stage will involve a competitive auction for state funding, requiring developers to submit a license application and a bank guarantee. The auction will proceed only if at least two bidders qualify, with the winner tasked with developing a project as close to 500 megawatts as feasible, based on turbine size.

State support will be granted to the lowest bidder, with funding capped at NOK 35 billion ($3.4 billion), as set by the Norwegian parliament. Norway’s Minister of Energy, Terje Aasland, highlighted the initiative’s significance: “This marks an important step forward for the government’s offshore wind initiative. In addition to providing power to a region with high electricity demand, the announcement presents significant opportunities for new contracts for the supplier industry.”

The Utsira Nord projects align with Norway’s ambitious goal to allocate areas for up to 30 gigawatts of offshore wind production by 2040. This effort supports the country’s commitment to meeting rising energy demands through sustainable sources while fostering innovation and economic growth in the renewable energy sector.