Norway’s Utsira Nord plans up to 500 MW of floating wind where seabed is too deep for fixed foundations
Off the south-western coast of Norway, the seabed plunges into such great depths that make the use of the fixed structures used by other offshore wind farms impossible. This depth has for years been the reason why the strong winds here could not be utilized commercially.
But now all that might change due to an award in February 2026 that marks the move towards the reality of a floating offshore wind farm of up to 500 MW, which is technology designed specifically for such places.
Why the depth problem matters for offshore wind
Fixed bottom foundations are the most common way to secure an offshore wind turbine. This involves fixing the steel structures directly onto the seabed by using driving methods or grouting. Such a solution works perfectly fine in shallow waters up to 60 meters in depth. At some point, the cost of engineering becomes prohibitively high when approaching this boundary.
On 13 February 2026, the Norwegian government awarded Project Area 3 at Utsira Nord to Utsira Nord Havvind DA—a company owned 65% by Equinor and 35% by Vårgrønn.
In order to tap the wind power of the world, floating wind platforms would be essential because the best wind resources of the world are located in deep waters. For example, the continental shelf of Norway poses a lot of problems with its depths, making wind energy inaccessible with the current technology dominating offshore wind farms.
This problem is solved by replacing the fixed foundation with a mooring line anchored into the sea floor. The wind platform is floating in the water without any physical connection to the seafloor whatsoever. That is why it is possible to build floating wind platforms at any depth, which makes Utsira Nord the ideal place for such construction.
The award: What Equinor and Vårgrønn won in February 2026
On 13 February 2026, the Norwegian government awarded Project Area 3 at Utsira Nord to Utsira Nord Havvind DA—a company owned 65% by Equinor and 35% by Vårgrønn. The area awarded is the southernmost of three zones offered at the site.
The award carries real weight in both what it grants and what it demands. The consortium now holds exclusive rights to carry out an impact assessment and apply for consent to build a floating offshore wind farm of up to 500 MW—covering not just the turbines themselves but also offshore grid infrastructure, the landfall point, and connection to the existing onshore power grid.
Utsira Nord Havvind didn’t win the only area on offer. A separate competing consortium was simultaneously awarded the central area at Utsira Nord, meaning two floating wind projects will now advance through Norway’s consenting process in parallel. That’s a deliberate design choice, keeping competition alive through the next phase rather than letting it fade after the initial award.
A two-stage process: From acreage to auction
The Norwegian Utsira Nord call will consist of two clear steps. Awarding acreages to qualified developers, which has already happened for both southern and central areas, was the first one. An auction for investment support will come next.
However, an auction cannot take place straight away. This event will only be possible when both consortia submit their consent application forms. The earliest date is anticipated somewhere in 2028 or 2029. It has been done purposefully, it guarantees that the only projects with clear regulation will participate in the competition for public investments.
There is also one competitive guarantee that should be mentioned. Both consortia should participate in the auction in order to make it valid, if one decides not to, the entire procedure stops. After winning, the project will be developed till making an investment decision.
However, the process is not as lengthy to get started as Utsira Nord Havvind DA submitted its development plan to Norway’s Water Resources and Energy Directorate, also called NVE, on 27 March 2026.
The public consultation process will come next in spring 2026 from NVE, where public meetings will be held in relation to the project site. All inputs will go towards NVE’s requirement for the impact assessment program, which is expected to be completed in autumn 2026. The company then has two years to perform the assessment of the wind farm, cables, offshore installations, and landing and inland connection, respectively.
Implications for floating wind globally for the 2035 start-up of Utsira Nord
The start-up of Utsira Nord is expected to happen around 2035. In case the plan is implemented on schedule, the project will become one of the very first floating wind farms.
The sheer size of the project plays a big role. The 500 MW capacity of Utsira Nord means that the project will become bigger than any existing floating wind farm. Showing that floating wind farms are capable of operating at the capacity level is exactly what the industry has been aiming to do all along.
The previous experience of Norway in industrial operations will be of great use to the partnership led by Equinor. Exploration of oil and gas in deep water for many years will give the country an experience that can be used for floating wind energy.
A successful implementation of Utsira Nord will have much more impact than just being significant for Norway. Other deep-water regions such as the US West Coast, Japan, and the Mediterranean will encounter the same problems of depth as Norway when it comes to building conventional offshore wind energy facilities.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
