2023 is set to be one of the busiest for offshore wind developers & governments as a multitude of new sites are scheduled to be awarded for offshore wind farm construction.

Robert Speht, CEO of Vidi Energy, comments: “It’s fantastic to see so many countries planning new offshore wind auctions In 2023. We have seen good growth in this market over the last couple of years, but I get the sense that the next 2 years will see a step change with many more countries planning out offshore & floating offshore wind. Exciting times!”

The 5 countries to watch are:

1. Norway
Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum & Energy plans to tender Utsira Nord & the first phase of the Southern North Sea II (Sørlige Nordsjø II) offshore wind areas by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Southern North Sea II has 1.5 GW of offshore wind capacity in the first phase & a further 1.5 GW at a later date in the 2nd phase. At Utsira Nord, a total of 1.5 GW will be awarded in 2023 across 3 500 MW sites.

2. USA – Gulf of Mexico
In Oct 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) informed that it had designated 2 Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore wind development.
BOEM is now expected to issue a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) with a 60-day public comment period in the first few weeks of 2023, with the Final Sale Notice (FSN) & lease sale date anticipated to be announced in the first quarter of the year.

3. Colombia
In Aug 2022, Colombian Ministry of Mining & Energy & the General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR) published a resolution of awarding its first offshore wind permits in 2023.
The permits that will be assigned in the first round, which will be completed in the 2nd half of 2023, will allow developers to undertake feasibility studies & advance licensing in order to continue with the maritime concession application.

4. Lithuania
Lithuania’s Ministry of Energy is preparing to launch the country’s first offshore wind tender in Sept 2023. The project is decided to have an installed capacity of 700 MW & is expected to be operational in 2028.
It is estimated that 700 MW of offshore wind capacity in the Baltic Sea could produce up to 2 TWh of green electricity per year, which would ensure up to a quarter of Lithuania’s electricity demand.

5. Ireland
The Irish govt recently approved T&Sc for the country’s first auction to supply electricity from offshore wind under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1).
The pre-qualification stage was scheduled to launch in Dec 2022, while qual stage & auction process are planned for early 2023, with final results expected to be published by June.

Original article by offshorewind.biz