Delays to auction schemes across key EU offshore wind markets are increasing competition among developers, leading to an ‘arms-race’ of the most prepared to meet the goals of the EU 2030 Agenda.

Countries such as Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands have already faced delays in their planned offshore wind auctions for this year, with few auctions planned for H1 2024 proceeding on schedule.

Youwind Renewables, a consultancy, has warned that, in response to these delays, authorities are expected to push for shorter timelines, as it is suspected that the best-prepared development teams will be rewarded while and ensuring the goals of the EU 2030 Agenda are not at risk.

With the average time to prepare and submit a bid standing at approximately two to three years, the importance of addressing key risks and potential bottlenecks quickly and early are likely to pay dividends. These include stakeholder engagement, logistics and modelling for wake effects.

"As the offshore wind sector navigates a complex environment, and pressure increases on bid timelines, it is imperative for developers to proactively tackle known risks and bottlenecks from

---