Norway marked a significant milestone in its offshore wind ambitions as Parkwind and the Ingka Group's Ventyr Nordsjø 2 secured victory in the country's inaugural auction to develop offshore wind in Sørlige Nordsjø 2. With a winning bid of 115 øre/kWh and two participants in the auction, the event represents a crucial step forward in Norway's renewable energy agenda.
Energy Minister Terje Aasland expressed enthusiasm, stating: “This is a milestone in the government's offshore wind investment, and today we have taken a big step forward in the work to develop offshore wind in Norway.” The government aims to allocate land equivalent to 30GW by 2040, highlighting its commitment to sustainable energy development.
In February, five players were initially qualified to participate in the auction, demonstrating their ability to meet sustainability criteria and create positive spin-off effects. These pre-qualified participants then competed for state aid in the auction, which commenced on Monday, March 18th.
According to the Ocean Energy Act, a competition must be held for project areas, typically through an auction, to minimize state aid. Within four weeks, a contract for difference will be signed between the state and the consortium, regulating the payment of state aid.
The winning consortium will be granted a project area and an exclusive right, for a limited time, to conduct a project-specific impact assessment and apply for a license under the Ocean Energy Act.
