The government of Norway has made a historic stride in its transition to renewable energy, announcing Ventyr Energi as the winner of the nation's first offshore wind tender. Ventyr Energi, a powerful consortium formed by Parkwind and Ingka Investments, secured the Sørlige Nordsjø II (Southern North Sea II) project with an impressive bid of NOK 1.15 (EUR 0.099) per kilowatt-hour.
"This marks a pivotal moment in our nation's commitment to offshore wind development," declared Terje Aasland, Norway's Minister of Petroleum and Energy. "This victory propels us forward into a future powered by sustainable energy solutions."
Norway initiated its offshore wind ambitions in March 2023, with the Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord areas opened for development and a combined capacity of 3 GW put on the table. This tender attracted five contenders, including Aker Offshore Wind, BP and Statkraft, Equinor and RWE, Norseman Wind (an EnBW subsidiary), and Shell, Lyse, and Eviny.
The selection process followed an English auction model, favoring the company offering the most competitive bid price (NOK øre/kWh). Ventyr Energi will now have four weeks to finalise a Contract for Difference (CfD) with the Norwegian state. Parliament has placed a cap on state support for the project at NOK 23 billion (approximately EUR 1.9 billion).
Originally formed through a partnership between Parkwind and NorSea, Ventyr Energi gained additional strength in November 2023 when Ingka Investments joined as a shareholder. This investment bolstered the consortium's capabilities in the competitive tender process.
The Norwegian Government has outlined bold plans for offshore wind expansion, with a target of 30,000 MW of offshore wind production capacity by 2040.
