The new roadmap for offshore wind in Europe was released this week with a clear message: the sector is ready and able to cut its costs by 30% by 2040, but it needs strong political backing. The plan, led by WindEurope alongside developers and manufacturers, seeks to revitalise a strategic industry for the energy transition and supply security. The document proposes auctioning at least 100 GW via Contracts for Difference (CfDs) over the next decade, with 10 GW awarded each year between 2031 and 2040. It also calls for cross-border planning and process standardisation to unlock investment, reduce the levelised cost of energy (LCOE), and create industrial jobs in coastal regions. In return, the private sector pledges to mobilise capital for projects and infrastructure, optimise the supply chain, and deliver technical and financial improvements that could drive LCOE below 60/MWh, including for floating technologies.
The ultimate goal: maintain an annual offshore installation rate of 15 GW by the end of this decade.
Iberia: A Region in the Spotlight, but on Divergent Paths With deep waters and over 3,000 km of coastline, the Iberian Peninsula has a central role to play in this new agreement. According to sector estimates, Spain and Portugal could jointly contribute over 30 GW to Europe"s 2040 targets, provided regulatory barriers are removed and auctions proceed as planned. Initially, Portugal appeared to take the lead, announcing plans to auction up to 10 GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2030.However, a recent government shift scaled this back to just
2 GW. The current focus lies in the areas of Viana do Castelo, Leixões, Figueira da Foz and Sines, which together represent an estimated potential of around 10 GW. Yet, the collapse of Portugal"s government has cast uncertainty over the continuity of its offshore strategy and the true momentum that will be given to the sector. The country already operates the pioneering WindFloat Atlantic (25 MW since 2020) and has advanced projects including Atlântico (3 GW), Nortada (600 MW) and the HibERNATO pilot (10 MW).All are based on floating technology suited to Portugal"s deep coastal waters their viability now largely depends on the clarity of the next political cycle.
Spain, by contrast, remains on hold. Despite over 60 projects currently under review by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO), the country has yet to launch its first offshore wind auction. Delays are attributed to the lack of a defined economic framework, pending environmental assessments, and the absence of an integrated grid plan for offshore deployment. Developers such as IREC, UNIVERGY, QAIR Energy, Capital Energy, Magtel, Elawan, Iberdrola, BlueFloat, Repsol and Greenalia have submitted proposals totalling more than 26 GW in areas like Galicia, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia and the Canary Islands. However, all developments remain stuck in early stages, awaiting the Spanish Government"s definition of technical, financial and territorial conditions. 2025 Prices: Market Signals for a Floating Future WindEurope"s new deal is also underpinned by clear market signals from floating wind technology essential for countries like Portugal and Spain. In February 2025, France awarded its first commercial floating wind auction: a 270 MW project off southern Brittany was granted to a consortium led by TotalEnergies and Qair at 86/MWh.This marked the first commercial-scale reference price for floating offshore in Europe.
In Portugal, LCOE estimates for floating projects currently range from 85 to 115/MWh, while in Spain, prequalified projects are estimated to need at least 90/MWh to remain viable, according to sources consulted by Strategic Energy Europe. Meeting WindEurope"s cost targets would require significant optimisation across technical, financial and regulatory dimensions. Is Spain Ready to Act? WindEurope"s agreement lands at a critical moment for the region. Major European countries are already defining prices and rules of the game. Spain with one of Southern Europe"s highest offshore wind potentials now has both the opportunity and the pressure to get on board. Will this be the push the Spanish Government needs to finally launch its first offshore wind auction? The industry has set its roadmap.Now, it"s politics" turn to deliver.
Proyecto Estado Promotor Potencia Ubicación Año ELAWAN NOR2 INICIO ELAWAN ENERGY 495 GALICIA 2025 ELAWAN NOR3 INICIO ELAWAN ENERGY 495 GALICIA 2025 ELAWAN NOR4 INICIO ELAWAN ENERGY 495 GALICIA 2025 TRAMUNTANA WIND MENORCA CONSULTAS PREVIAS WTF 240 BALEARES 2024 PLATAFORMA DE INVESTIGACI N PLEMCAT INICIO IREC 30 CATALUA 2024 NORFEU CONSULTAS PREVIAS QAIR 1080 CATALUA 2024 BREIXO CONSULTAS PREVIAS QAIR 648 GALICIA 2024 PINZ N CONSULTAS PREVIAS UNIVERGY 540 GALICIA 2024 ROLEIRA CONSULTAS PREVIAS QAIR ENERGY 594 GALICIA 2024 TAMARAGUA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA QAIR ENERGY 236 CANARIAS 2024 PROTOTIPO WHEEL DE E LICA MARINA FLOTANTE CONSULTAS PREVIAS ESTEYCO 6 CANARIAS 2024 GRANADILLA INICIO CAPITAL ENERGY 50 CANARIAS 2024 GREGAL CONSULTAS PREVIAS QAIR ENERGY 180 BALEARES 2024 MILETO CONSULTAS PREVIAS MAGTEL 612 ANDALUCÍA 2024 ELAWAN OFFSHORE CONSULTAS PREVIAS ELAWAN ENERGY 240 CANARIAS 2024 O BOI CONSULTAS PREVIAS INVENERGY RENEWABLES 552 GALICIA 2024 POSEID N CONSULTAS PREVIAS CAPITAL ENERGY 234 ANDALUCÍA 2024 XISTRAL CONSULTAS PREVIAS CAPITAL ENERGY 810 GIRONA 2023 MEDITERRÁNEO 1 CONSULTAS PREVIAS REPSOL GALICIA 2023 ATLÁNTICO-2 CONSULTAS PREVIAS REPSOL GALICIA 2023 ATLÁNTICO-1 CONSULTAS PREVIAS REPSOL 525 GALICIA 2023 LA JANDA CONSULTAS PREVIAS BLUEFLOAT Y SENER 15 ANDALUCÍA 2023 PONIENTE I CONSULTAS PREVIAS ABEI ENERGY 435 GALICIA 2023 NEPTUNO CONSULTAS PREVIAS ABEI ENERGY 1005 ANDALUCÍA 2023 LA PINTA CONSULTAS PREVIAS IBERBLUE WIND 990 ANDALUCÍA 2023 JUAN SEBASTIÁN ELCANO 1 CONSULTAS PREVIAS IBERBLUE WIND 552 GALICIA 2023 ALMADRABA CONSULTAS PREVIAS FERROVIAL 495 ANDALUCÍA 2023 VARUNA CONSULTAS PREVIAS ABEI ENERGY 300 CANARIAS 2023 TERRAL CONSULTAS PREVIAS FERROVIAL 510 ANDALUCÍA 2023 ALBACÍN FIN FASE POTESTATIVA CAPITAL ENERGY 510 ANDALUCÍA 2023 DRAGO CONSULTAS PREVIAS RWE RENEWABLES 260 CANARIAS 2023 VENTUS FIN FASE POTESTATIVA ABEI ENERGY 600 GALICIA 2022 BANDAMA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA FERROVIAL 195 CANARIAS 2022 ANDAMANA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA MAGTEL 240 CANARIAS 2022 CREUS CONSULTAS PREVIAS FERROVIAL 510 CATALUA 2022 BREOGÁN CONSULTAS PREVIAS CAPITAL ENERGY 510 GALICIA 2022 NAO VICTORIA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA IBERBLUE WIND 990 ANDALUCÍA 2022 CELTA II CONSULTAS PREVIAS FERROVIAL 510 GALICIA 2022 TIMANFAYA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA CAPITAL ENERGY 50 CANARIAS 2022 MENCEY FIN FASE POTESTATIVA CAPITAL ENERGY 150 CANARIAS 2022 L´EMPORDA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA CAPITAL ENERGY 510 CATALUA 2022 VOLANTEIRO CONSULTAS PREVIAS CAPITAL ENERGY 510 GALICIA 2022 CELTA I FIN FASE POTESTATIVA FERROVIAL 495 GALICIA 2022 GRAN CANARIA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA ACCIONA ENERGÍA 210 CANARIAS 2022 PE SAN AGUSTÍN I FIN FASE POTESTATIVA ABEI ENERGY 49.9 CANARIAS 2022 SALINAS I FIN FASE POTESTATIVA ABEI ENERGY 49.9 CANARIAS 2022 MARESÍA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA CAPITAL ENERGY 254 CANARIAS 2022 CANAWIND II FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 250 CANARIAS 2022 CANAWIND I FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 250 CANARIAS 2022 ALWIND FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 300 ANDALUCÍA 2022 GALWIND FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 1000 GALICIA 2022 CATWIND FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 1200 CATALUA 2022 MEDFLOAT PILOT PARC FIN FASE POTESTATIVA SAITEC 50 CATALUA 2022 GAVINA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA IBERDROLA 500 CATALUA 2022 GOFIO INICIO GREENALIA 50 CANARIAS 2022 NORDES FIN FASE POTESTATIVA BLUEFLOAT Y SENER 225 CANARIAS 2022 ÁGATA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA BLUEFLOAT Y SENER 1200 GALICIA 2021 SAN BRANDAN FIN FASE POTESTATIVA IBERDROLA 490 GALICIA 2021 SAN CIBRAO FIN FASE POTESTATIVA IBERDROLA 490 GALICIA 2021 GEROA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA SAITEC 45 PAÍS VASCO 2021 SAN BOROND N FIN FASE POTESTATIVA IBERDROLA 283 CANARIAS 2021 CANARRAY I FIN FASE POTESTATIVA ENEROCEAN 48 CANARIAS 2021 TRAMUNTANA FIN FASE POTESTATIVA BLUEFLOAT Y SENER 1000 CATALUA 2021 ALISIO FIN FASE POTESTATIVA GRUPO COBRA 49.9 CANARIAS 2021 LANZAROTE FIN FASE POTESTATIVA EDPR Y ENGIE 50 CANARIAS 2020 GRAN CANARIA ESTE FIN FASE POTESTATIVA EDPR Y ENGIE 144 CANARIAS 2020