On 30 October, Enova, a Norwegian state-owned enterprise, announced it would provide a total of NOK 3.94 billion (approximately $425 million) in funding for two floating offshore wind demonstration projects, to further advance the commercialisation of floating wind technology.
The funding will be allocated to Fortius Offshore Wind and Fram Wind Solutions, with the former receiving NOK 2 billion and the latter NOK 1.94 billion. The two companies plan to install two 18.5 MW offshore wind turbines each at the METCentre floating offshore wind test facility off the island of Karmøy, Norway, bringing the total to four turbines with a combined installed capacity of 74 MW.
This equates to nearly NOK 1 billion in funding support per turbine on average.
Enova is a key supporting institution under Norway’s energy transition policy, providing final-stage funding for technologies on the cusp of commercialisation to help them cross the threshold. The funding is not disbursed unconditionally; instead, it is paid out upon successful project delivery, with a clear performance-based orientation.
The project site also carries industry landmark significance. METCentre is the birthplace of global floating wind power: the world’s first floating wind turbine, Hywind Demo, was installed there in 2009, and the site boasts mature testing infrastructure and grid connection conditions.
If the four 18.5 MW units are successfully constructed, deployed and commissioned, they will become the largest floating offshore wind turbines in the world by unit capacity.
As of November 2026, the highest unit capacity of installed and fully operational floating offshore wind turbines globally remains in the 16 MW class, with the majority deployed in Chinese projects.
Among them, the 16 MW Three Gorges Pilot semi-submersible floating wind platform, developed by China Three Gorges Corporation in partnership with Goldwind, was completed and installed in the waters off Yangjiang, Guangdong in May 2026. It is currently the world’s largest semi-submersible floating wind turbine by unit capacity. The 16 MW CNOOC Anlan tension leg platform (TLP) floating wind project, developed by CNOOC, was officially put into operation in August 2026. It is the world’s first 16 MW-class TLP floating wind project, designed for deep-sea scenarios with a water depth of 136 metres.
Covering the two mainstream floating wind technology pathways of semi-submersible and TLP respectively, the two projects broadly represent the current commercial technology ceiling for global floating wind power.
If Norway’s planned 18.5 MW turbines are delivered on schedule, they will break through the existing 16 MW ceiling and officially usher the floating offshore wind sector into the 18 MW+ era.
Increasing unit capacity is not simply a matter of scaling up power output. Longer blades, heavier nacelles and higher overall turbine loads all impose stricter requirements on the structural rigidity of floating foundations, the load-bearing capacity of mooring systems, and the motion stability of platforms.
Notably, neither Enova’s announcement, statements from industry organisations nor public remarks from the two developers have disclosed the specific turbine OEM so far, with only the 18.5 MW unit capacity confirmed.
Of course, the turbine supplier has yet to be finalised, and further attention should be paid to the project tendering process, equipment selection and actual delivery progress going forward. What is certain, however, is that floating offshore wind power is accelerating its shift from technology validation to engineering and large-scale validation – and the 18.5 MW capacity class is likely to become the new focus of industry competition in the next phase.
