Norway Awards First Major Offshore Wind Leases to Three Consortia

The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has announced a major industrial decision. The winners for the first phase of offshore wind allocations in the Sørlige Nordsjø II area will be made public on March 21, 2026. This is a long-awaited and announcement for Norway's energy sector. The Norwegian government will announce the winners of the first major offshore wind leases on that date. Three pre-qualified consortia are competing for these first major offshore wind leases. The first consortium includes Aker Offshore Wind, BP, and Statkraft. The second consortium is a partnership between Equinor and RWE. The third is a joint venture between Shell, Lyse, and BKK. The Sørlige Nordsjø II area is slated for a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. The formal announcement of the winning consortia is scheduled for a press conference. That press conference will begin at 10:00 Central European Time on the specified date. This marks a pivotal step in Norway's development of offshore wind energy. The decision follows a lengthy pre-qualification and evaluation process for the competing groups. The announcement date in 2026 provides a clear timeline for the next phase of this major project. The Sørlige Nordsjø II area is located in the North Sea. The allocation process is for the first phase of development in this specific area. The capacity target of 1.5 gigawatts represents a substantial amount of renewable energy. The press conference at 10:00 CET is the official event for revealing the selected consortia. The competing groups consist of major international and Norwegian energy companies. Aker Offshore Wind is a Norwegian company focused on offshore wind development. BP is a British multinational oil and gas company. Statkraft is a Norwegian state-owned electricity company. Equinor is a Norwegian state-owned energy company. RWE is a German multinational energy company. Shell is a British multinational oil and gas company. Lyse is a Norwegian energy and telecommunications company. BKK is a Norwegian energy company based in Bergen. The pre-qualification process ensured these consortia met specific criteria to participate. The final decision will be announced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. This announcement is a key milestone for Norway's offshore wind ambitions. The project will contribute to Norway's renewable energy goals. The development of the Sørlige Nordsjø II area is part of a broader national strategy.