Offshore wind projects outside the U.S. continue to accumulate

World Oil staff 

During the last several months, various new offshore wind projects and tenders have been announced in countries outside the U.S. What follows is a collection of announcements from Brazil, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France and Canada. 

Fig. 1. Fugro to deliver a geotechnical site investigation for the Rio de Janeiro Offshore Wind Pilot Project. Image: Fugro.

Fugro to conduct geotechnical campaign for South America’s first licensed offshore wind project 

Petrobras has selected Fugro to deliver a geotechnical site investigation for the Rio de Janeiro Offshore Wind Pilot Project, the first offshore wind development (Fig. 1) in South America to advance under a formal environmental licensing process. The 18-MW pilot marks an essential step in energy diversification, as countries in the region begin to establish regulated pathways for the responsible development of offshore wind. 

Working within a near-shore study area off São João da Barra, Fugro will acquire the Geo‑data needed to inform safe and efficient design. Activities include soil sampling, in situ testing and laboratory analysis across four coastal and shallow‑water locations, along with onshore investigations to support cable landfall and routing. Field operations and analysis will begin in April and continue through third-quarter 2026, with final reporting scheduled for 2027. 

The project stands to benefit from Fugro’s work on early‑stage offshore wind developments in emerging markets worldwide, ranging from initial pilot studies to full site characterization. For this effort, Fugro’s Brazil‑based teams will lead delivery, pairing near-shore operations from the Rio das Ostras hub with laboratory analysis at the Pinhais facility. This combination of local insight and global experience will help ensure consistent, decision‑ready data for Petrobras.  

“As South America moves forward with its offshore wind ambitions, early Geo‑data is one of the most important tools for reducing uncertainty and setting projects up for long-term success,” said Céline Gerson, President and Group Director for Fugro in the Americas. “By partnering with Petrobras at this early stage, we’re helping establish the technical foundation needed to progress offshore wind responsibly and expand future energy options in Brazil and across the wider region.” 

Fig. 2. CRP Subsea will supply 141 NjordGuard cable protection systems for Vattenfall’s Nordlicht I wind farm in the German North Sea. Image: CRP Subsea.

CRP Subsea awarded major offshore wind contract in German North Sea 

CRP Subsea, an AIS company, has secured a significant contract with Jan De Nul to supply cable protection systems for Vattenfall’s Nordlicht I wind farm in the German North Sea, Fig. 2.  

Under this contract, CRP Subsea will deliver 141 NjordGuard cable protection systems (CPS) to protect the inter-array cables at both cable ends, when connecting to offshore converter platforms and wind turbine generators. Three NjordGuard CPS designs will be engineered to meet the specific installation requirements for both monopile and J-tube interfaces at the wind farm. The systems are designed to protect cables from over-bending, abrasion, and fatigue, ensuring reliability during installation and throughout their operational life.  

Andy Smith, Head of Sales at CRP Subsea, states: “We are proud to partner with Jan De Nul on the Nordlicht I wind farm project. Being chosen to supply NjordGuard for this project demonstrates our customers’ confidence in us to provide innovative, reliable solutions that protect critical offshore infrastructure. Our tailored designs for both monopile and J-tube interfaces ensure the cables are protected throughout installation and operational life, helping them achieve efficient and secure offshore operations.”  

Production of the NjordGuard systems will take place at CRP Subsea’s dedicated facility in the North West of England. Equipped with a cutting-edge semi-automated production line, the facility is designed to deliver high-capacity manufacturing with efficiency and consistency. Engineering on the project is already underway, with delivery scheduled for December 2026.  

The Nordlicht I offshore wind farm will have an installed capacity of 980 megawatts (MW) and is scheduled to be operational in 2028. It is set to become Germany’s largest offshore wind project. It will produce renewable energy equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 1.0 million households in Germany.  

NjordGuard is an integrated cable protection system developed for offshore wind farm power cables connecting to wind turbine generators and offshore substation platforms. Manufactured from API-qualified materials, it offers exceptional protection against abrasion and bending. The system is designed for quick assembly on installation vessels and is compatible with both monopile and J-tube interfaces. By incorporating API 17L certified Uraduct® material, NjordGuard delivers outstanding seabed wear resistance, reducing the requirement for additional rock stabilization. 

Approval given to £30M+ Port of Nigg investment as energy businesses unite under Maraen 

Plans for over £30M of investment at one of the UK’s leading deepwater ports were approved recently, as three industry-leading North-east Scotland energy businesses unite under a new brand—Maraen. 

Maraen is an integrated energy infrastructure solutions provider, bringing together the capabilities of Port of Nigg, Global Energy (Group) and Global Energy Services. The rebrand follows the acquisition of the businesses by Mitsui & Co. Europe Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. in 2025, reinforcing long-term investment and positioning Maraen for sustainable growth within the UK and international energy industry. 

As part of this commitment, a final investment decision (FID) has been taken to develop a new heavy-duty quay and roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) capability at Maraen Port of Nigg. 

Fig. 3. Maraen CEO & Managing Director Yoshihiro Hayakawa. Image: Maraen.

The £30 million-plus investment will significantly enhance port capacity and operational capability, supporting inbound and outbound logistics for offshore wind and wider energy sector projects. It is also expected to attract new projects and customers to the facility, stimulating further investment and supporting job creation across the supply chain. 

Yoshihiro Hayakawa (Fig. 3), CEO & Managing Director of Maraen, said, “This is a defining moment for our business. Our new name, ‘Maraen’—combining ‘Mara’, the Gaelic word for ‘of the sea’, and ‘En’ for energy—reflects our heritage and our ambition to shape the future of energy across multiple sectors. 

“Bringing our capabilities together under one brand strengthens our position as an integrated energy infrastructure solutions provider, allowing us to deliver at a greater scale and invest with confidence in long-term growth for our customers, communities and wider stakeholders. 

“The final investment decision on the Eastern Inner Dock Quay demonstrates that ambition, underlining our commitment to supporting complex, large-scale projects across oil & gas, offshore wind and nuclear, and positioning Maraen at the forefront of international energy infrastructure.” 

Maraen Port of Nigg, with its prime location and Green Freeport status, is already recognized as a strategic hub for offshore wind projects, having supported the deployment of over 4 GW of offshore wind capacity. The new quay will further strengthen this position, by providing a dedicated load-out and export facility for high-voltage cables manufactured at the adjacent Sumitomo Electric HVDC cable facility. 

Rory Gunn, Facilities Director at Maraen Port of Nigg, added, “This targeted investment will bolster Maraen Port of Nigg, increasing both our capacity and capability to support large-scale energy projects. The new quay will boost our ability to handle complex, simultaneous operations and meet the growing demands from the energy industry. 

“By continuing to invest in our infrastructure, we are reinforcing our position as a leading UK energy port—trusted by developers to deliver the scale, efficiency and reliability required to support the energy industry, now and into the future.” 

With planning consent and marine license already secured, construction of the new heavy-duty quay will soon get underway. The development, which will cover approximately 16,000 m², is supported by a £10 million grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), forming part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest up to £500 million over five years to strengthen Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain. 

Fig. 4. Wind farm developers will be able to bid on permits for two new wind farms offshore the Netherlands. Image: Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Permits offered to developers for two new Dutch offshore wind farms in 2026 

At the end of 2026, wind farm developers will be able to apply for a permit with a subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) for not one, but two new offshore wind farms, Fig. 4. These are for IJmuiden Ver (IJV) Sites Gamma-A and Gamma-B. With a second wind farm in this permit tender round, the government says it is “taking an important step in the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.” 

In January, RVO announced the tender round for the IJV Gamma-A site. It has now been announced that wind farm developers can also apply for a permit with a subsidy for the IJV Gamma-B site this year. Each wind farm has a capacity of 1 GW. 

Both tenders are expected to close in December 2026. This gives developers enough preparation time for their applications. RVO expects to grant the subsidy decisions and associated permits during first-quarter 2027. The wind farms are expected to start generating energy in 2032. 

For IJV Gamma-B, a wind farm developer will receive a maximum subsidy of € 0.103 per kilowatt hour (kWh). This is slightly lower than for IJV Gamma-A, because the expected energy yield of IJV Gamma-B is slightly higher, due to the location of the site. 

The final tender arrangements for the IJV Gamma-A and Gamma-B sites are due to be published during second-quarter 2026. The draft Ministerial Order (regulation) for IJV Gamma-B is the same as that of IJV Gamma-A. However, there will be a six-week online consultation for the IJV Gamma-B draft Order. During consultation, developers can contribute ideas regarding the final Order. The consultation for IJV Gamma-B is being done separately, because it is located in a different place from IJV Gamma-A. 

The wind farms at IJV Gamma-A and -B connect to the same Tennet offshore substation platform. From that platform, the electricity generated goes to the mainland, where it comes ashore at the Maasvlakte. 

By granting the permits for the sites simultaneously, the wind farms can connect to the offshore grid immediately, once construction is complete. This ensures the best possible use of the offshore grid. Connecting both sites to a single platform also requires less work and time. Furthermore, it is cheaper to connect both wind farms at the same time than in stages. 

France launches 10-GW offshore wind tenders under PPE 3 

The French government recently announced the relaunch of tenders for development of renewable electricity, including onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar PV. These tenders are part of the third Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE 3), released in February 2026. Officials’ objective for this new program is to shift from 60% fossil energy in France’s current energy consumption to 60% fossil-free energy by 2030, and 70% by 2035. 

For offshore wind, the government has published the deployment zones and major criteria. Officials said the 2035 target is an additional 15 GW, with 5 GW already awarded. The Minister of the Economy said the government is now launching the remaining 10 GW. The government also announced that Tenders 9 and 10 will be merged, and winners will be designated by late 2026 or early 2027.  

Fig. 5. Map of proposed wind energy offshore Nova Scotia, Canada. Map: Provincial government of Nova Scotia.

These tenders represent a combined capacity of about 10 GW, including 5 GW of fixed offshore wind and 5 GW of floating offshore wind, spread over all the maritime coasts. The development of offshore wind is a pillar of French energy strategy, which targets 45 GW by 2050, equal to 20% of all electricity needs. PPE 3 aims to achieve an installed capacity of 15 GW by 2035. 

Nova Scotia aims to develop 15 GW of offshore wind 

In March 2026, Nova Scotian Premier Tim Houston announced plans for up to 15 GW of offshore wind, including a memorandum of understanding with Massachusetts to coordinate on regional development (Wind West). Nova Scotia aims to deploy this offshore wind capacity by 2040, as part of its ambitious "Wind West" proposal, originally announced in 2025, and if fully realized, would exceed 60 GW. The plan intends to supply renewable energy for local use and export, potentially powering over 11 million homes. The project’s initial target is to name successful bidders within months and includes a 5-GW initial phase between 2031 and 2033. An additional 15 GW would come online by 2040. 

The initiative is designed to create a "nation-building" project that would export clean electricity, potentially to the United States. Officials estimate that a 15-GW build-out could create roughly 30,000 annual direct jobs during construction and over 1,200 permanent jobs for operation and maintenance. 

The project seeks to build on Atlantic Canada’s existing energy infrastructure. Key constraints involve finalizing federal permitting, transmission infrastructure development, and navigating potential environmental impacts.