STORY / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Around the world with Team Norway: Spain and Portugal forge ahead in offshore wind
- Published 21 November 2024; updated 30 September 2026; estimated reading time 4 minutes. The article says Spain and Portugal are moving from subsidised prototype projects toward commercial-scale offshore wind and can coordinate through their shared Iberian energy market. It quotes Innovation Norway Madrid adviser Rodrigo Ballesteros Cruz. Targets cited are 3 GW for Spain and 3 GW for Portugal (reduced from an initial 10 GW goal after considering total energy consumption).
- Portugal is described as having a regulatory framework and three operational prototype floating turbines in the north. Spain had a few small floating turbines not yet grid-connected, but a new Royal Decree was said to create a framework for designated zones, approvals, grid access and site allocation. The article says Spanish plans included up to 3 GW by 2030, public dialogue with fishers/coastal communities and ministerial orders defining the first auction’s location, timing, scale and terms.
- The page identifies the Canary Islands as a likely site for Spain’s first project, estimating 200 MW south of Gran Canaria. It says the regional government planned a survey tender and would fund metocean/geological studies made freely available to bidders. Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country are also identified as possible regions. Portugal’s pre-assessment of sites (oceanographic and wind studies before leasing) is contrasted with debate in Spain over whether developers would need to conduct such work themselves.
- The article says deep coastal waters in both countries generally favour floating foundations. Norwegian strengths it lists include floating structures, marine engineering, remote monitoring, metocean data, and offshore oil-and-gas experience. It also describes Iberian firms as strong in turbine-component manufacturing (blades, towers and nacelles), citing Siemens Gamesa, Acciona and EDP Renewables.
- Contact: Rodrigo Ballesteros Cruz, Senior Advisor, Innovation Norway Madrid, rodrigo.ballesteros-cruz@innovationnorway.no. The non-exhaustive Norwegian-player list groups: balance of plant (Archer Wind); advisory/engineering (DNV, Kongstein, SINTEF); design (Vind AI); developers (Fred. Olsen Seawind, Mainstream Renewable Power, Source Galileo Norge); geosurvey (Fugro, TGS); maritime/transport-installation (BW Offshore, DOF, Odfjell Oceanwind, Reach Subsea, Saga Subsea); technologies (DNH, Esgian Offshore Wind, Glamox, Jotun, Marine Aluminium, Novenco, TechnipFMC, Vest Kontakt, Wise Group, Øglænd System). Related linked examples: Archer Wind foundations, Glamox lighting, Jotun coatings and Automasjon & Data monitoring. Related industries: Energy and Offshore wind.