The year 2025 is shaping up to be a decisive moment for the development of offshore wind energy in Spain. Despite being one of the countries with the greatest potential to become a leader in floating offshore wind energy, the sector faces crucial challenges due to the lack of regulatory definitions and the postponement of the necessary public auctions to finance and execute the first commercial projects.

The publication of the Royal Decree in 2024 marked a significant step forward by establishing the foundations for the awarding of projects in areas defined by the Marine Spatial Planning (POEM). However, the implementation of the regulatory framework is far from sufficient.

Experts such as Tomás Romagosa from RWE, and representatives from companies like Ocean Winds and ABEI Energy, in discussions with Energía Estratégica España, have emphasized that the lack of complementary regulations—such as the Coastal Law or the Renewable Energy Economic Regime (REER)—represents a critical obstacle.

The delay in the auction calls, now scheduled for late 2025, has created uncertainty in the planning and execution of projects.

According to Manuel Fernández from Ocean Winds, defining a clear timeline and a comprehensive regulatory framework is crucial not only to meet the national goal of 1-3 GW installed by 2030, but also to maintain competitiveness against neighboring countries.

There are also other challenges, as noted by Ignacio Asúa from Navantia Seanergies: manufacturing capacity and the availability of specialized professionals, as 7,500 additional professionals will be needed by 2030, especially in areas such as naval engineering and project management, to materialize their ambitions.

Despite the regulatory difficulties, companies continue to bet on offshore wind in Spain.

In 2024 alone, developers registered an additional 5,242 MW, consolidating companies like Qair, which leads with 2,738 MW, and developers like Helios (612 MW), Invenergy (552 MW), and Univergy (540 MW).

This effort is visible in flagship projects such as “NORFEU” with 1,080 MW in Catalonia, driven by Qair, and “PINZÓN” from Univergy, with 540 MW in Galicia, which stand out for their focus on floating technologies and their potential to open new technological frontiers.

These add to Spain’s project portfolio, accumulating around 28 GW of capacity.

Among the projects in progress, several stand out for their size and ambition. Capital Energy, one of the leading players in the sector, tops the list with a total capacity of 3,304 MW, distributed across projects like Xistral and others in Galicia.

Grupo Cobra follows with 3,199.6 MW, while ABEI Energy and Qair maintain a solid presence with 2,934.8 MW and 2,738 MW, respectively.

Other key developers include Ferrovial (2,715 MW), IberBlue Wind (2,532 MW), and the BlueFloat Energy and Sener consortium, with 2,440 MW.

Geographically, Galicia stands out as the leading region, with 10,146 MW in projects under development, representing nearly 40% of the total capacity. Its potential to develop floating offshore wind energy, combined with its port infrastructure, makes it a strategic area.

Catalonia ranks second, with 5,690 MW, driven by notable projects like NORFEU and other initiatives led by Qair. Andalucía follows closely with 5,661 MW, benefiting from its access to the Atlantic and its proximity to key industrial centers.

The Canary Islands also play a crucial role, with 3,932.4 MW. This region has been highlighted by several companies as the ideal location for the first auctions due to its favorable environmental conditions and defined territorial framework. Finally, the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country complete the map with 420 MW and 45 MW, respectively.