Business
Projects
EBL secured for Hanbando!
This month, in South Korea, our 1,125 MW bottom-fixed Hanbando project successfully secured its Electricity Business License (EBL)! The license was issued by the Electricity Regulatory Commission under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE), marking a key step forward in project development.
Our project, located Incheon, now holds exclusive development rights over the sea space and secured interconnection capacity meaning that our teams can now proceed with the next steps including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), key permitting processes, site investigations, and major engineering studies!
As part of our commitment to South Korea’s energy transition, Hanbando Offshore Wind supports both national and regional renewable energy goals—contributing to the country’s target of 125.9 GW of renewable energy by 2038 while aligning with Incheon City’s objective of developing 6.2 GW of offshore wind power by 2030.
Our Country Manager for South Korea, Guzman Figar, mentioned, “We are seeing substantial progress for offshore wind in South Korea, with the publication of the 11th Energy Basic Plan increasing long-term renewable energy targets and the approval of the Special Act on Offshore Wind. At OW, we believe that our Hanbando project, which connects directly to the Seoul–Incheon metropolitan area—one of the largest load centers in the world—will play a key role in helping South Korea achieve these objectives.”
Congratulations to our teams for this achievement! #ProudtobeOW
Second phase of inter-array cable installation kicked off at Yeu-Noirmoutier!
Spring is here, and so is the next phase of cable installation at our EMYN project!
We started off March strong, picking up where we left off last fall, as our teams resumed inter-array cable installation about four months after the first phase began in September 2024.
Currently, 90 km of cables —Have you seen this inspiring post?— are being installed. From the cables to the cast iron cable protection and ballast rocks, this installation is deeply tied to the local supply chain. With locally sourced materials and components, our project continues to drive local economic growth creating jobs and opportunities while supporting France’s national offshore wind industry. Did you know that the industrial supply chain of EMYN is 95% European and more than 50% French?
By the end of the year, once installation is complete, EMYN will deliver clean energy to nearly 800,000 people—equivalent to the entire population of the Vendée region, where EMYN is set to operate in—reinforcing France’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.
A huge thank you to our teams for the fantastic work so far! Up next: let’s get ready for turbine installation.
Completion of BC-Wind Poland onshore archaeological research!
The BC-Wind Team is pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, with the receipt of the final protocol from the Pomeranian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, all archaeological research for the onshore part of the OWF BC-Wind investment in Poland has been officially completed.
The work covered five areas with a total area of over 30 hectares:
- Non-invasive survey within the Kierzkowo archaeological site.
- Excavation survey in the area of the onshore transformer station, previously used as a potato field.
- Surface survey along the cable line route, mainly through densely forested terrain.
- Anticipatory excavation survey in the cable connection area between the onshore transformer station and the PSE (TSO) station for the 400 kV cable line.
- Surface survey of the access road to the onshore transformer station.
The archaeological research was carried out in stages from August 2022 to March 2023, with the final stage completed in February 2025.
At the Kierzkowo archaeological site, experts have recommended controlled drilling and continued supervision, as the area contains a protected monument—potentially two barrows—and the possibility of discovering additional artifacts remains open.
Along the cable line route, surface surveys were conducted, and while no movable historical artifacts or immovable archaeological monuments were found, the challenging terrain means undiscovered sites cannot be ruled out. As a precaution, archaeological supervision will continue during earthworks to ensure any potential findings are properly documented.
However, field research at the onshore transformer station (ONS) and its connection with the TSO has been fully completed. With no archaeological obstacles identified, this area has been officially cleared for construction, allowing work to proceed at any time!
As the BC-Wind project advances, we look forward to the next steps—stay tuned for more updates!
In the Spotlight!
Want to learn more about how OW is supporting offshore wind development in Brazil?
Get all the details from Canal Energia’s special feature with our very own Business Development Director for Brazil and South America, Rafael Palhares Simoncelli!
Video of the month
Step behind the scenes of EFGL and watch the anchor and mooring line installation in action!
OW’s Global Presence
March in review: A month full of key international events!
March was full of activity! It kicked with a great presence at the 12th Annual World Ocean Summit and Expo in Tokyo! Pelayo Rodríguez Alonso, Head of Business Development Japan & Asia Pacific, highlighted how offshore wind can go beyond energy—driving positive change for ocean sustainability. The event brought together global leaders to discuss impactful solutions; and where we showcased our commitment to marine conservation, artificial habitats, and a regenerative approach.
But also a busy month in Poland too! Our team attended two major offshore wind conferences, the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Summit in Gdańsk and the Offshore Wind 3.0 & Infrastructure Conference in Sopot. At the Baltic Summit, Marek Świerżyński, Engineering Associate Director for BC-Wind, highlighted the critical role of ports in offshore wind expansion. Meanwhile, in Sopot, Aleksandra Jampolska, Public Affairs and Stakeholders Senior Manager, engaged in discussions on project financing and infrastructure. Both events provided valuable insights and networking opportunities, reinforcing our commitment to offshore wind development in the Baltic region!
Meanwhile, our SouthCoast Wind team in the U.S. had an eventful month as well! They started by participating in the New England Saltwater Fishing Expo, which draws thousands of fishermen and other key stakeholders from around the region. The team then attended the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association Annual Summit and the Thrive Outside Teachers Learning Circle, two events that brought together environmental educators, community leaders, and industry experts in Rhode Island. They ended the month by spending the day at a local High School Career Fair, where they introduced students to SouthCoast Wind and the offshore wind industry, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of offshore wind workers and cultivating long-term interest in the industry.
Lastly, our Bluepoint Wind team joined their local partner, Students 2 Science, to support local students in learning about different renewable energy sources through lab experiments, including offshore wind! The 21 students came from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey and did day-long labs about Offshore Wind blade design, solar panel efficiency, hydrogen power, and biofuels. Students 2 Science bring in schools from across NJ to do hands-on labs in cases where the schools may not have the materials, expertise, or even any science teachers at all. The partnership with Bluepoint Wind has spanned more than two years where the organization designed offshore wind programming to align with Bluepoint Wind’s interests and Project Director John Dempsey sits on the organization board to further guide their work.
What’s new in offshore?
The UK Government Proposes Reforms to the CfD Scheme for Allocation Round 7!
Regulatory changes are making waves in offshore wind this month! In the UK, the government has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme for Allocation Round 7 (AR7), set to open in summer 2025. These reforms aim to accelerate offshore wind deployment and support the UK’s clean energy goals for 2030.
Key proposed reforms include:
Allowing fixed-bottom offshore wind projects without full planning consent to participate in AR7.
Extending CfD contract terms beyond 15 years to enhance investment certainty.
Adjusting budget allocation and disclosure for greater efficiency.
Expanding phasing provisions for floating offshore wind (FLOW) projects.
OW’s take? We welcome these reforms and the UK’s commitment to 43-50 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Longer CfD terms could improve investment security and competitiveness, but careful design is needed to avoid speculative bidding risks.
OW will engage in the consultation to advocate for a fair pricing mechanism that balances affordability, investor confidence, and long-term project success.
Stakeholder feedback was invited until March 21, 2025, with the government’s response expected ahead of AR7. We’ll be watching closely—stay tuned!
South Korean Government Passes the Offshore Wind Power Special Act!
South Korea’s South Korea passed the Offshore Wind Power Special Act, signalling a step in the right direction to accelerating offshore wind development in the country. By aiming to streamline permitting and boost government support, the act aims to attract private investment and strengthen the domestic supply chain. However, key details on site selection, business standards, and environmental assessments are still to be finalized.
So, what’s in the Act? Previously, offshore wind developers in South Korea faced complex permitting challenges and high project risks. This new law shifts responsibility to the government, which will now:
Identify potential sites and designate them as "preliminary zones."
Lead planning and community consultations before confirming zones as "development districts."
Oversee a competitive bidding process to select developers.
OW’s take? This legislation marks an integral step toward a more structured and investment-friendly offshore wind sector. It signals strong government support for renewables and aligns with OW’s commitment to South Korea’s energy transition. As mentioned above, OW has already secured EBL for our 1.125 MW Hanbando project, reflecting this progress.
What’s next?
Finalizing regulations on site selection, operator standards, and environmental requirements.
Launching the planned site system with designated zones.
Bidding & project acceleration as developers compete for rights.
Supply chain growth driven by increased market confidence.
With these developments, South Korea is positioning itself as a key player in offshore wind. OW will continue monitoring the rollout and engaging with stakeholders to support the country’s renewable energy ambitions!
Great advancement: Second phase of inter-array cable installation kicked off at EMYN!
The latest data on Europe’s wind energy sector highlights both progress and challenges. While offshore wind capacity continues to grow, regulatory delays and supply chain constraints remain key hurdles. Looking ahead, Europe is set to install 4.5 GW of offshore wind in 2025, but achieving the revised target of 158 GW by 2030 will require accelerated permitting, grid investment, and expanded port infrastructure.
Let’s take a look at some of 2024 key figures
Investment: Final investment decisions in offshore wind totalled €7 billion.
Offshore wind growth: 2.6 GW of new capacity was added, with offshore wind making up 16% of total wind installations, bringing Europe’s total offshore wind capacity to 37 GW
Turbine size trends: The average power rating of installed offshore turbines rose to 10.1 MW, while newly ordered turbines averaged 14.8 MW, reflecting a shift toward larger, more efficient machines.
Floating offshore wind awards: 1.2 GW, including 750 MW in France and 400 MW in the UK.
Outlook for 2025-2030
Expected offshore wind growth: Europe is set to install 4.5 GW in 2025, with major projects like our around 500MW EMYN coming online. There is also Ireland’s ORESS 2.1 Auction coming up and Italy and Portugal’s first-ever offshore wind auctions.
Port Infrastructure as a key priority: Port capacity must expand to support larger turbines and increased installations. Delays in upgrades could slow deployment and raise costs.
Challenges: Regulatory hurdles continue to push key offshore wind tenders to 2025, creating uncertainty around future projects. At the same time, supply chain capacity must scale to keep pace with growing turbine sizes, while grid infrastructure requires expansion to accommodate the increasing volume of offshore wind power. Ensuring a stable rollout will depend on accelerating permitting, strengthening the supply chain, and upgrading transmission networks.
People
Feedback and IDP are here!
As part of our ongoing commitment to professional development, March marks the launch of Feedback Meetings and the Individual Development Plan (IDP) process. These are fantastic opportunities to reflect on your progress, get feedback from your manager, and shape your learning journey for 2025.
Let’s take a moment to review OW’s Annual Learning Plan structure
Each OW employee has a personalized Annual Learning Plan that includes:
- Mandatory training – Courses required by law and internal regulations.
- Technical training – Courses assigned based on job roles.
- Voluntary training – Courses focused on transversal skills, which should be requested through the Individual Development Plan (IDP), completed with managers during feedback meetings in March.
To make the most of your development, we encourage you to proactively schedule your feedback session with your manager. During this session, you’ll align on your goals and define the improvement actions that will shape your IDP, including the voluntary training you wish to pursue.
Only you are responsible for your development! So don’t forget to commit to the actions and make time to continue to grow and develop yourself.
What’s Next?
In April, you will receive your full 2025 Learning Plan, including the technical training you’ve been assigned because of your role and the voluntary training you’ve requested though the IDP.
Stay tuned for more details!
Communications
Another successful Protecting the Oceans edition in Portugal!
As part of the “Protecting the Oceans” initiative, OW organized a beach cleanup at the Cabedelo Beach, located in Viana do Castelo, home of our WindFloat Atlantic project!
With over 50 participants, the initiative was supported by local community representatives, academia, local government, and national ocean users, with contributions from the Municipality of Viana do Castelo, and the Portuguese Marine Litter Association (APLM) coordinated the cleanup and monitoring.
The group collected over many large bags of waste, including styrofoam, plastic bottles, fishing ropes, nets, and more!
“Protecting the Oceans” is an OW international initiative aimed at tackling marine pollution and raising awareness about the importance of marine conservation and recycling. By partnering with local and national organizations, we can collaborate with our surrounding communities and achieve global environmental goals!
And thanks to the OW team present for their support!
Find all the pictures from this great event here!
LinkedIn post of the month
Did you miss it? On International Women’s Day, we showcased OW’s progress while recognizing the road ahead.
