By Oko Immanuel, M.Eng in Subsea Engineering
Published: February 25, 2026
Offshore wind is proving resilient in early 2026 despite policy uncertainty in some markets. From court victories on the US East Coast to record auction capacity in Europe and Asia, the sector is moving forward with floating technology and larger turbines leading the charge. Here’s a quick, flat-news roundup of the biggest stories right now.
US East Coast Projects Resume After Court Wins
- Five major East Coast projects (Sunrise Wind, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind – CVOW, and others) have won legal battles against Trump administration stop-work orders and suspensions.
- Construction has restarted on several, with CVOW (2.6 GW, Dominion Energy) now more than 70% complete and scheduled to deliver first power by late March 2026.
- The pauses added $228 million in costs to CVOW alone, but the project remains on track for full operation by early 2027, powering ~660,000 homes.
Global Capacity & Growth Outlook
- Offshore wind installed capacity reached ~89 GW at the end of 2025.
- Forecasts call for ~160 GW of new connections in 2026 (slightly down from preliminary 2025 estimates due to supply-chain and policy delays).
- Floating wind is accelerating fastest: 2.4 GW secured routes to market in recent auctions/contracts, with France, South Korea, and the UK leading.
Key Auction & Project Highlights
- United Kingdom: CfD Allocation Round 7 results expected soon; recent rounds awarded 8.4 GW (fixed + floating), the largest ever.
- Philippines: First dedicated offshore wind auction (GEA-5) launched — 3.3 GW capacity to be awarded in 2026.
- France: Awarded two 250 MW floating projects in the Mediterranean + 1.5 GW fixed-bottom off Normandy (France’s largest renewable project to date).
- Japan: First commercial-scale floating wind project at Goto entered full operation — a major milestone for Asia-Pacific floating wind.
- Oregon (US): State released offshore wind roadmap with four scenarios (up to 3 GW large-scale option) in deep waters requiring floating technology.
Industry & Policy Trends
- Costs are stabilizing after 2025 headwinds; component spend expected to double 2025 levels in 2026.
- Offshore wind tenders entering a “new era” with more floating focus and larger capacity awards.
- End-of-life decisions for aging turbines and supply-chain improvements remain key focus areas.
Offshore wind is navigating policy noise and cost pressures, but floating technology, auction momentum, and legal wins are driving continued growth. The sector’s long-term outlook remains strong.
Which offshore wind development stands out to you most right now?
Drop a comment!
Share on LinkedIn for energy transition professionals.
Subscribe for HPHT series updates, offshore wind insights, and weekly energy news.