In the qualitative first phase of Norway's floating wind tender for the Utsira Nord area, two consortia have each won a site of approximately 500 megawatts capacity. The Equinor and Vargronn partnership secured Site 3, while the EDF and Deep Wind Offshore consortium secured Site 2.

Next Steps and State Support

The site allocations allow the consortia to submit proposals for environmental impact assessments and apply for licenses. They are also eligible to compete in a second phase next year for up to Nkr35 billion in state support via an investment grant. This second round will be a sealed-bid auction, where the bidder requiring the least support per MW wins. The consensus is that the available support will only be sufficient for one of the two sites. Unlike a contract-for-difference model, this grant is provided only during development and construction, with no payments during the operational phase.

Project Details and Strategic Goals

The Utsira Nord project will be located off Southwestern Norway, near Utsira island and 30 kilometers from Haugesund. The qualitative criteria for the first phase included cost, maturity, execution capability, sustainability, technology development, and positive ripple effects. For Equinor, the project builds on its experience from the 88 MW Hywind Tampen floating wind farm and its understanding of the Norwegian continental shelf. Deep Wind Offshore described the award as a major milestone and, with EDF, aims to demonstrate strong execution while safeguarding local interests in Norway's first large-scale floating wind project.

Parallel Tender for Small-Scale Projects

Separately, the state-owned firm Enova launched a tender for small-scale floating wind projects with a total budget of Nkr10 billion. This scheme aims to enhance the future cost-effectiveness of large floating wind farms and test integrated technologies. Bids are due by 12 February 2026, with up to Nkr2 billion in investment support available per project. Selection criteria are weighted 70% on cost efficiency (annual production per krone of support) and 30% on innovation and dissemination potential for the net-zero transition. Projects must consist of roughly one to five turbines, have a full-lifecycle plan, and target start-up within five years.