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The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has officially approved a NOK 35 billion (€2.95 billion) State aid scheme to support the development of a floating offshore wind farm in Utsira Nord, located in the North Sea off the coast of Rogaland County.
The aid scheme, administered by the Norwegian Ministry of Energy, aims to bolster renewable energy production, accelerate electrification, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels across the transport, industrial, and commercial sectors. The initiative is aligned with Norway’s national climate targets and will also contribute to wider European emission reduction efforts.
The offshore wind farm will strengthen Norway’s position in the EU internal energy market, in which it participates via the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. The project also supports integration with the Nordic power market and the broader European electricity grid through existing interconnectors.
The financial support will be disbursed in the form of a direct grant, with a two-step selection model for awarding the project:
Step 1: A qualitative competition for the allocation of project areas in Utsira Nord.
Step 2: A State aid auction, scheduled for 2028–2029, where aid will be granted to the bidder requiring the lowest amount of support per megawatt of installed capacity.
ESA approved the scheme under the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG), affirming that the measure complies with EEA regulations on public support.
