Offshore wind development auctions: Denmark opens three areas, Ocean Winds offered third Celtic Sea site
Denmark is offering three areas for fixed offshore wind development, with a requirement to complete construction by 2034. In the UK, Ocean Winds was the successful bidder for a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea.
In early September, Principle Power reported that the three floating offshore wind projects in western Europe using its WindFloat technology have produced more than 1 TWh of cumulative power since 2011.
These are North Sea Central (minimum 1 GW), Hesselø in the Kattegat area (800 MW) and North Sea South (1 GW). All are available with Contract for Difference terms, under which the state guarantees a fixed price for to the offshore wind producers for the electricity generated.
The total maximum level of support to be provided will be DKK 55.2 billion (US$8.5 billion). Requirements include reusable wind turbine blades and in the case of Hesselø, a "nature-inclusive design."
Deadline for bids for North Sea Central and Hesselø is spring 2026, and the fall of 2028 for North Sea South. Construction of the first two projects must be completed by the end of 2023, and North Sea South by the end of 2034.
Courtesy Danish Energy Agency
the Danish Energy Agency announced tenders for three areas for the establishment of at least 2.8 GW of offshore wind power.
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In the western UK last month, The Crown Estate awarded Ocean Winds, the 50:50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, rights for a third 1.6-GW floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea.
Following the Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 auction in June, rights for two of three sites offered for new floating wind farms went to Equinor and Gwynt Glas. Both entered lease agreements for their projects in October.
To de-risk the process for bidders, The Crown Estate agreed on a plan with the National Energy System Operator for connecting the sites to the UK’s energy grid and a program of technical and environmental pre-consent surveys.
Ocean Winds’ obligations include details of the UK ports it intends to work with to support final assembly and deployment of the new floating turbines. Port Talbot in south Wales and Port of Bristol in western England were previously identified as potential locations for this activity.
A finalized agreement for the lease should follow in spring 2026.
Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.
