Offshore Wind: Top 10 Projects and Companies in Europe in 2025 and 2024

Europe’s Offshore Wind Revolution: Powering a Continent from the Sea

Imagine the North Sea, a vast expanse of gray, churning water once defined by naval fleets and oil rigs. Today, a new kind of giant populates this horizon. Gleaming white turbines, some taller than the tallest skyscrapers, stand in silent, powerful formation, harvesting the relentless winds that sweep across the water. This isn’t a futuristic vision; it’s the reality of 2024 and 2025. Europe is in the midst of an unprecedented energy transformation, building a new industrial empire not on land, but on the sea itself. Projects of staggering scale, like the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, are coming online, each one a testament to human ingenuity and a commitment to a cleaner future, with enough power to energize millions of homes and redefine national energy security. This is the story of how offshore wind energy is moving from a niche alternative to the continent’s primary power source.

The Titans of the Sea: 10 Projects Defining Europe’s Energy Future

The scale of Europe’s ambition is best understood through the projects themselves. These are not merely power plants; they are monumental infrastructure achievements that are setting new global benchmarks. Here are ten of the most significant offshore wind installations shaping the energy landscape in 2024 and 2025.

1. Dogger Bank Wind Farm

Company: SSE Renewables, Equinor, Vårgrønn
Installation Capacity: 3.6 GW (Total capacity will be 5.6 GW)
Applications: Powering up to 6 million homes annually.
Source: Dogger Bank Wind Farm: The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm, Largest offshore wind plants in the world progressing off UK coast

2. Nordseecluster

Company: RWE
Installation Capacity: 1.6 GW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Investment decision made: RWE to build wind farms with capacity of …, Vestas secures 900 MW order for the Nordseecluster B offshore …

3. Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 Wind Farms

Company: ORLEN
Installation Capacity: 1.44 GW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new …

4. Sofia Offshore Wind Farm

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 1.4 GW
Applications: Not specified
Source: 12 Biggest Offshore Wind Companies – Marine Insight

5. EnBW Wind Farm

Company: EnBW
Installation Capacity: 960 MW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Construction start on Germany’s largest offshore wind farm – EnBW

6. Baltic Power

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 1140 MW (1.14 GW)
Applications: Not specified
Source: 12 Biggest Offshore Wind Companies – Marine Insight

7. Hornsea 2

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 1.4 GW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Capacity of the largest wind power farms globally 2025 – Statista

8. Greater Changhua 1 and 2a

Company: Ørsted
Installation Capacity: 900 MW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Top 10: Wind Energy Projects

9. Green Volt

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 560 MW
Applications: Not specified
Source: Winds of change hit offshore energy generation | Allianz Commercial

10. Thor wind farm project

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 1 GW
Applications: Providing energy for one million households
Source: Powering Europe Together – Poland’s Role in the Offshore Wind …

Table: Top European Offshore Wind Projects (2024-2025)

Beyond the Grid: Powering Economies, Not Just Homes

While powering millions of homes, as seen with the Dogger Bank and Thor projects, is the most relatable application, it only tells part of the story. The sheer scale of these developments implies a much deeper integration into Europe’s industrial fabric. Many projects, including RWE’s 1.6 GW Nordseecluster and ORLEN’s 1.44 GW Bałtyk farms, list their application as “not specified,” but their immense capacity points toward serving heavy industry and stabilizing national grids. This signifies a crucial strategic shift: offshore wind is no longer just a green supplement but a source of baseload-capable power essential for energy-intensive sectors. These gigawatt-scale projects are foundational pillars of national energy strategies, designed to ensure industrial competitiveness in a decarbonizing world. The presence of smaller projects like the 560 MW Green Volt suggests a maturing market with a diverse adoption strategy, likely targeting specific industrial clusters or even offshore oil and gas platforms to power their operations with clean energy.

The North Sea’s Green Empire: Mapping Europe’s Wind Powerhouses

A clear geographical pattern emerges from the data: the North Sea is the undisputed epicenter of Europe’s offshore wind boom. The UK hosts a trifecta of giant projects (Dogger Bank, Sofia, Hornsea 2), while Germany (Nordseecluster, EnBW farm) and Denmark (Thor project) are also major players. This concentration is no accident. The region offers a powerful combination of high, consistent wind speeds, relatively shallow waters suitable for fixed-bottom turbines, and strong political will from bordering nations. However, the data also reveals the rise of a second major hub: the Baltic Sea. Poland is aggressively entering the market with the massive Bałtyk 2 & 3 and Baltic Power projects. This isn’t just about adding capacity; it’s a strategic geopolitical move to enhance energy independence and position Poland as a key player in Europe’s green energy future. The development of these two major maritime hubs suggests a future where the North and Baltic Seas act as the continent’s primary powerhouses, exporting clean energy far inland.

Scaling Up and Branching Out: The Maturation of Offshore Wind Tech

These installations are a powerful declaration of technological maturity. Projects with capacities exceeding 1 GW, such as Dogger Bank (3.6 GW) and Nordseecluster (1.6 GW), are no longer experimental. They are bankable, large-scale infrastructure investments backed by global energy giants like RWE, Equinor, and SSE, and built with turbines from industry leaders like Vestas and Siemens Gamesa. This confirms that conventional fixed-bottom offshore wind technology is fully commercial and ready for mass deployment. But the story doesn’t end there. The involvement of Equinor, a pioneer in floating offshore wind with its Hywind Tampen farm, signals where the industry is heading next. While the projects on this list are predominantly fixed-bottom, the industry is simultaneously pursuing the next frontier. The current strategy is twofold: aggressively scale mature, cost-effective fixed-bottom technology in suitable areas while commercializing floating platforms to unlock the vast wind resources in deeper waters, dramatically expanding the potential map for offshore wind generation.

Harnessing the Horizon: What’s Next for European Offshore Wind

The projects of 2024-2025 signal a clear and irreversible trajectory for European energy. Offshore wind has graduated to a strategic, gigawatt-scale industry, central to the continent’s economic and environmental goals. The dominance of the North Sea continues, but the emergence of the Baltic as a new power center highlights a geographic diversification driven by energy security. Looking forward, several key insights emerge. First, the market is consolidating around major players like Ørsted, RWE, and Iberdrola, who possess the capital and expertise to execute these mega-projects. Second, energy security is now as powerful a driver as climate targets, particularly for nations like Poland, which will accelerate development across Eastern Europe. Finally, as this enormous new capacity comes online, the focus will inevitably shift to the next great challenges: modernizing grid infrastructure to handle the power influx and deploying large-scale energy storage to ensure a stable, 24/7 supply. The era of fixed-bottom giants is in full swing, but the horizon belongs to floating wind, which will unlock the full, immense potential of Europe’s offshore resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which project is the largest and how much power does it generate?
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is the largest project mentioned. It is currently being installed with a capacity of 3.6 GW, with a planned total capacity of 5.6 GW. It is expected to power up to 6 million homes annually.

Where are most of these new offshore wind projects located?
The vast majority of the major projects are concentrated in two main maritime hubs. The North Sea is the primary location, with key projects in the UK (Dogger Bank, Sofia, Hornsea 2), Germany (Nordseecluster), and Denmark (Thor). A second significant hub is emerging in the Baltic Sea, led by Poland’s Bałtyk and Baltic Power projects.

Are these wind farms only used to power homes?
No. While some projects like Dogger Bank specify powering millions of homes, the article states that the enormous scale of many other projects points to a broader application. They are intended to serve heavy industry, stabilize national grids, and provide baseload-capable power, making them fundamental to national energy strategies and industrial competitiveness.

What type of technology are these massive wind farms using?
The article indicates that the current wave of gigawatt-scale projects primarily uses mature, conventional fixed-bottom turbine technology. This technology is described as fully commercial and suitable for the relatively shallow waters of the North and Baltic Seas. Floating offshore wind is mentioned as the next technological frontier for deeper waters.

According to the article, what are the next major challenges for Europe’s offshore wind industry?
As the huge new capacity from these projects comes online, the article identifies two key future challenges: modernizing the continent’s grid infrastructure to handle the massive influx of new power, and deploying large-scale energy storage systems to ensure a stable and reliable 24/7 supply from the wind.