This study examines how offshore wind deployment can be accelerated across the Nordic countries, while acknowledging that the policy landscape and industry conditions are in flux. The Nordic countries are also at different stages, and Denmark is a frontrunner with more developed targets and policy instruments than the others.
Across the Nordics, the main barriers relate to predictability and profitability. Binding national targets and long-term predictability are assessed as more significant barriers in Norway, Sweden and Finland than in Denmark. Profitability barriers, including the level of support and the design of support schemes, are most pronounced in Sweden and Finland. Regulatory framework design and the organisation of processes remain barriers across countries. Sweden stands out with a municipal veto risk. Defence interests are a notable barrier in Sweden and Finland. Iceland, Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland are at earlier stages in developing frameworks for offshore wind deployment.
The report makes 7 recommendations for accelerating offshore wind deployment:
Clear and predictable targets: Broad political agreement on offshore wind targets and willingness to support development will increase predictability for developers and reduce investment risk in national supply chains.
Clear and stable regulatory framework: Adopt a law-anchored, end-to-end regime with statutory timelines, efficient and robust tender design, and clear sequencing of key public processes.
Support level that matches the targets: Auctions and CfDs have become the gold standard. Align support with targets, and use full-package approaches and grid solutions to reduce risk.
One-stop shops, centralised tendering and licensing: Establish or strengthen a single point of contact across permitting and grid interfaces.
Government data collection and sharing: Government-led site surveys and data shared with bidders to reduce total cost and risk, and to speed up processes.
MSP-anchored zoning and data framework: If possible, active use of MSP that designates offshore wind areas, sets common standards for baseline surveys and open data, links to the one-stop shop and tender data rooms, and is revised on a fixed cycle.
Early stakeholder consultation: Stakeholder consultation in developing MSP and other strategic processes may identify conflicts and potential barriers for development early on.