STORY / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Around the world with Team Norway: Navigating offshore wind in the Baltic Sea
- Published 14 January 2025; updated 30 September 2026; estimated reading time 5 minutes. The article compares Baltic-region market maturity: Germany and Denmark have established industries; Poland is advancing rapidly; Sweden and Finland had only a few operating turbines at publication. Norwegian Energy Partners (NORWEP), part of Team Norway alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Innovation Norway and Export Finance Norway, aims to help internationalise Norway’s energy industry. NORWEP’s Jørgen Brandt Theodorsen is the principal source.
- Poland had awarded 5.9 GW of offshore-wind capacity. The article estimates investment at NOK 35–50 billion (about USD 3–4.3 billion) per GW and says 1 GW typically represents 70–100 turbines. It describes the projects as large infrastructure investments, driven partly by replacing coal and meeting demand from a population of about 40 million and heavy industry. First licences were awarded in 2020; installations were expected from 2026, with a significant build-out forecast for 2026–2029.
- The Baltic states are at different stages. Lithuania had auctioned 700 MW and was expected to hold another round. Estonia had awarded projects, including to Norwegian developer Deep Wind Offshore. Latvia had no awarded or operating offshore project yet, but planned the joint Estonia–Latvia ELWIND project, with 1 GW on each side of the border; the article says Latvia’s larger coastal area gives it greater technical potential than neighbours.
- Finland was planning an auction for 6 GW, but depth and seasonal sea ice present engineering challenges. Sweden’s developer-led licensing process was described as fragmented, requiring over 30 approvals; the article notes signs of a move toward a more structured process and says 13 farms had recently been denied final approval.
- The article treats energy security and geopolitics as growing factors after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It describes subsea cables as vulnerable infrastructure and mentions enhanced monitoring, cable reinforcement and international coordination. It also notes Swedish military authorities had blocked several projects over defence/security concerns. Theodorsen calls for shared surveillance and aligned protections, while balancing fisheries and environmental interests.
- Norwegian strengths cited include deepwater and concrete-platform expertise, experience from oil and gas, offshore operations, cables and foundations. DOF is cited for offshore work including Hywind Tampen; Nexans for cables; Aker Solutions for foundations. Related examples linked are Equinor floating-wind development, DOF engineering/construction, Kongsberg vessel technology, Seaonics handling/charging and Glamox smart lighting.
- Contact: Jørgen Brandt Theodorsen, Director Renewable Energy at NORWEP, jorgen.theodorsen@norwep.com. Listed Norwegian players: Nexans (cables); DNV and Norconsult (classification/advisory); Equinor and Ørsted (developers); DOF, Kongsberg Maritime, Seaonics and Tschudi Group (maritime/transport-installation); Aker Solutions, Glamox, Høegh LNG and Palfinger (offshore-wind technologies). Related industries: Energy and Offshore wind.