Europe remains the global leader in offshore wind, with 38.6 GW of installed offshore wind capacity expected by the end of 2025. Of Europe's total 304 GW of installed wind power capacity, around 39 GW is offshore. Although grid connections slowed during 2025, investment remained strong, with six offshore wind projects securing EUR 22.5 billion in financing to support 5.4 GW of new capacity, led by major projects in Poland, Germany, and the UK.

The next generation of Europe's offshore wind industry is being driven by upcoming offshore wind farm developments in Europe, including Sylen Offshore Wind Farm, IJmuiden Ver Offshore Wind Farm, Åland Energy Island Offshore Wind Farm, Noatun Nord Offshore Wind Farm, and Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm.

This article explores the largest upcoming offshore wind farms in Europe, highlighting their installed capacities, technical specifications, current development status, and key contractors.

Top 5 Upcoming Offshore Wind Farm Projects in Europe 2026

Sylen Offshore Wind Farm

The Sylen Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 8.675 GW offshore wind project located in the Southern Bothnian Sea within Sweden's Exclusive Economic Zone. Jointly developed by Svea Vind Offshore AB and Iberdrola, it is set to become one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe. 

Located approximately 50 km east of Söderhamn and 10-11 km offshore from Hudiksvall, the project is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to meet around 20% of Sweden's current annual electricity demand once fully operational.

Technical Specifications

The largest offshore wind project in Sweden has a planned installed capacity of 8.675 GW and will comprise up to 347 offshore wind turbines, each with a maximum height of 350 metres. The wind farm will be connected to the Swedish grid through subsea export cables installed under a separate Continental Shelf permit. Developers have applied for a 50-year operating permit, with construction required to begin within the first 15 years of approval. Commercial operations are currently targeted for around 2033.

Current Status

Sylen is currently in the pre-construction and permitting phase. In January 2024, the developers submitted applications under Sweden's Economic Zone Act and Continental Shelf Act covering both the offshore wind farm and its export cable system. The project is undergoing environmental assessments and regulatory review while awaiting government approval before construction can commence.

Key Contractors:

IJmuiden Ver Offshore Wind Farm

The IJmuiden Ver offshore wind farm zone is a 4 GW offshore wind development located approximately 62 km off the Dutch coast in the North Sea. The zone is one of the Netherlands' largest offshore wind developments and is divided into multiple sites, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma-A, and Gamma-B. Once fully developed, IJmuiden Ver will play a key role in achieving the Netherlands' offshore wind and energy transition targets.

Technical Specifications

The project has a planned capacity of 4 GW, with IJmuiden Ver Alpha (2 GW) and IJmuiden Ver Beta (2 GW) awarded in 2024. Two additional 1 GW sites (Gamma-A and Gamma-B) are planned for future development. 

The wind farms will be connected to the Dutch grid through TenneT's 2 GW HVDC offshore grid connection system, incorporating 525 kV submarine and onshore export cables. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2029, with full development extending to 2032.

Current Status

IJmuiden Ver is currently in the pre-construction phase. The Alpha site, developed by the Noordzeker consortium, is scheduled for commissioning in 2029. The Beta site, developed by Zeevonk II, will be delivered in two phases, with 1 GW operational in 2029 and the remaining 1 GW in 2032 following adjustments linked to the Delta Rhine Corridor hydrogen pipeline. Permit tenders for Gamma-A and Gamma-B are scheduled to open in late 2026, with grid connection targeted for 2032.

Key contractors:

Aland Energy Island Offshore Wind Farm

The Åland Energy Island is a large-scale offshore renewable energy initiative located in the Baltic Sea around the Åland Islands, Finland. The project combines gigawatt-scale offshore wind generation with green hydrogen production, making it one of Europe's most ambitious integrated renewable energy developments. 

Led by developers including Flexens, Lhyfe, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), and OX2, the initiative encompasses projects such as Sunnanvind and Noatun North & South, with a combined planned capacity of 6-10 GW.

Technical Specifications

The project is designed to integrate offshore wind farms with Power-to-X infrastructure, using renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen for the shipping, aviation, and heavy industrial sectors. 

The offshore developments are planned across northern and southern maritime areas around Åland, with total investments estimated at up to EUR 34 billion. The project is intended to become a major renewable energy hub supplying both the Åland Islands and mainland Europe.

Current Status

Åland Energy Island is currently in the development and feasibility phase. The Government of Åland is advancing seabed leasing, concession frameworks, and environmental planning for offshore wind zones under the Sunnanvind programme. Developers continue technical studies, stakeholder consultations, and project planning while preparing for future offshore wind lease auctions and commercial development.

Key contractors:

Noatun Nord Offshore Wind Farm

The Noatun Nord Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 5 GW offshore wind project located in the Baltic Sea near the Åland Islands, Finland. Jointly developed by OX2 and Ålandsbanken Fondbolag, the project is among the largest planned offshore wind farms in Europe. 

Once completed, it is expected to generate approximately 20 TWh of renewable electricity annually, supporting Finland's and the wider Nordic region's energy transition.

Technical Specifications

The wind farm will have an installed capacity of up to 5 GW and is planned to comprise up to 360 offshore wind turbines. The project is expected to generate around 20 TWh of electricity per year. Koverhar Harbour in Hanko, Finland, will serve as the primary logistics and staging hub for turbine assembly, storage, and transport.

Current Status

Noatun Nord is currently in the pre-construction and permitting phase. Developers are progressing environmental impact assessments and securing the necessary approvals from the Government of Åland and Finnish authorities. 

Construction is targeted to begin following completion of the permitting process, with commercial operations currently expected around 2029–2030. A letter of intent has also been signed for the use of Koverhar Harbour as the project's main logistics base.

Key contractors:

Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm

The Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 4.1 GW offshore wind project located in the outer Firth of Forth, approximately 37 km off the East Lothian coast, Scotland. Developed by SSE Renewables, it is set to become one of the world's largest offshore wind farms, with the potential to generate enough renewable electricity to power up to 6 million homes. The project will be delivered in phases, with the initial 1.4 GW phase targeted for operation in 2031.

Technical Specifications

Berwick Bank will have an installed capacity of 4.1 GW and is expected to comprise up to 307 offshore wind turbines. The first development phase, delivering approximately 1.38–1.4 GW, has secured a UK Contract for Difference (CfD). The wind farm will be located in the North Sea and connected to the UK electricity grid through dedicated offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure.

Current Status

The project is currently in the pre-construction phase. It received Scottish Government consent in July 2025, subject to seabird mitigation and compensation measures. In January 2026, the first phase secured a 20-year CfD under the UK's Allocation Round 7. Geotechnical investigations are underway, with a Final Investment Decision (FID) expected in 2027, while the first phase is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2031.

Conclusion

Europe continues to lead global offshore wind development, with a strong pipeline of multi-gigawatt projects despite ongoing permitting, grid connection, and supply chain challenges. Developments such as Sylen, IJmuiden Ver, Åland Energy Island, Noatun Nord, and Berwick Bank demonstrate the increasing scale and technical complexity of offshore wind, ranging from conventional utility-scale wind farms to integrated renewable energy hubs producing green hydrogen.

Looking ahead, WindEurope forecasts Europe's offshore wind capacity to reach approximately 73 GW by 2030, although this remains below the region's original 120 GW target. The Hamburg Declaration, signed by ten North Sea countries in 2026, reaffirmed Europe's long-term ambition of reaching 120 GW by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050, with annual deployment expected to accelerate throughout the next decade.

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