Offshore Wind in Europe: Top 10 Companies Leading the Charge in 2025

In 2025, the European offshore wind sector is defined by a fierce competition for scale, with integrated utility giants consolidating their dominance while a specialized ecosystem of developers and manufacturers enables unprecedented project sizes. Market leader Ørsted commands a massive 10.2 GW of installed capacity, but challenger RWE is rapidly closing the gap, securing nearly 6.9 GW of new capacity in the UK’s pivotal Allocation Round 7. The overarching theme for the year is the strategic shift from standalone wind farms to interconnected, large-scale energy hubs, best exemplified by the North Sea countries’ ambitious pact to transform the region into the “world’s largest clean energy centre” with a long-term goal of 300 GW.

Europe’s Offshore Wind Leaders in 2025

Based on an analysis of major projects, auction results, and strategic partnerships throughout 2025, these ten companies have been identified as the most influential players in Europe’s offshore wind market.

1. Ørsted

The undisputed market leader, Denmark’s Ørsted continues to dominate with an operational offshore wind capacity of 10.2 GW and another 8.1 GW under construction. A key project moving forward in 2025 is the 913 MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 in Germany, set to become its largest in the country and a benchmark for subsidy-free development.

2. RWE

German utility RWE has cemented its position as the global number two and the most aggressive challenger in Europe. With a current base of 3.3 GW, the company is on a path to triple its capacity to 10 GW by 2030. Its most significant move in 2025 was dominating the UK’s Allocation Round 7, where it secured rights to develop nearly 6.9 GW of capacity, including the massive 3 GW Dogger Bank South projects.

3. Vattenfall

Sweden’s state-owned Vattenfall remains a formidable force, operating over 1, 400 turbines with a total installed wind capacity of approximately 6.6 GW. The company is a key developer in the German North Sea, where it is advancing the Nordlicht cluster, a combination of two projects totaling over 1.6 GW.

4. Iberdrola

Spanish utility Iberdrola has built a substantial offshore presence, reporting 2.4 GW of installed capacity by late 2025. The company’s focus on execution is evident, with its offshore wind generation increasing by a remarkable 38.8% in 2025, reflecting the successful commissioning of new projects.

5. SSE Renewables

A leading developer from the UK, SSE Renewables is a cornerstone partner in the world’s largest offshore wind project, the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Holding a 40% stake, the company leads the development and construction phases, underscoring its expertise in managing mega-projects.

6. Equinor

Norwegian energy major Equinor leverages its extensive offshore oil and gas experience as a key partner in major wind projects. Like SSE, it holds a 40% stake in the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank farm, where it will serve as the operator. Equinor is also recognized as a critical pioneer in floating offshore wind technology, a vital area for future expansion into deeper waters.

7. Northland Power

This Canadian developer has successfully established a strong European foothold. Northland Power’s flagship European project is the approximately 1.1 GW Baltic Power project in Poland, a crucial development for the emerging Polish market. The company is also advancing its 1.0 GW Hai Long project in Asia, demonstrating its growing global reach.

8. Ocean Winds

A joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, Ocean Winds has rapidly become a major global player with a portfolio of 17 offshore projects totaling nearly 19 GW. In 2025, the company achieved a key milestone with the first turbine installation at the Îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier (EMYN) project in France, solidifying its position in the French market.

9. Vestas

As the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas is a critical enabler of the industry’s growth, having installed over 189 GW of capacity globally. A landmark achievement in 2025 was the first-ever installation of its powerful V 236-15.0 MW turbine at the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Farm. The company also secured a firm order from RWE for its 1, 380 MW Norfolk Vanguard West project in the UK.

10. GE Vernova

A top-tier technology provider, GE Vernova’s powerful turbines are at the heart of some of Europe’s most significant projects. Its Haliade-X turbines are the technology of choice for the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest. With a global installed fleet of around 120 GW, the company remains a central player in the offshore supply chain.

Table: Europe’s Top 10 Offshore Wind Companies 2025

A Specialized Value Chain: From Mega-Developers to Tech Titans

The 2025 market landscape reveals a highly specialized and interdependent value chain. The industry is segmented into three primary categories: integrated giants like Ørsted and RWE that manage the full project lifecycle; specialist developers such as SSE Renewables and Equinor that bring capital and focused expertise to complex joint ventures; and technology leaders like Vestas and GE Vernova that supply the critical hardware. The success of mega-projects like Dogger Bank, developed by partners SSE and Equinor using GE’s turbines, highlights that this collaborative ecosystem is essential for de-risking the massive capital requirements and technical challenges of modern offshore wind farms.

UK Dominance and Eastern Expansion: Mapping Europe’s Wind Hotspots

Geographically, the UK solidified its position as Europe’s most important offshore wind market in 2025, driven by the government’s landmark Allocation Round 7, which awarded a record 8.4 GW of new capacity. This provides the long-term revenue stability needed to attract billions in investment. Germany remains a core market with major projects like Vattenfall’s Nordlicht cluster. However, the most significant strategic trend is the market’s eastward expansion. Poland is emerging as a major new hotspot, set to add more new capacity in 2025 than any other European nation, driven largely by Northland Power’s Baltic Power project. This geographic diversification is creating new supply chain opportunities and reducing reliance on the traditional North Sea hubs, even as Europe’s market structure differs from the state-driven model seen with the top companies in China.

Poland to Lead Europe’s 2025 Wind Additions

This chart details the key European markets for new capacity in 2025, reinforcing the section’s focus on the UK, Germany, and Poland’s eastward expansion.

(Source: RTO Insider)

Bigger Turbines, Deeper Waters: The Technology Frontier

The key technology theme in 2025 is the successful commercialization of next-generation hardware. The deployment of 15 MW-class turbines is no longer a future goal but a present reality, with Vestas installing its flagship model at the Baltic Power project. This step-change in turbine size is critical for improving project economics by maximizing energy output per foundation. Concurrently, the industry is advancing into its next frontier: deep-water sites. Technology pioneers like Equinor are leading the development of floating offshore wind, a sector DNV forecasts will account for 15% of all installed offshore capacity by 2050. This indicates a clear technology roadmap from demonstration projects to a commercially scalable growth segment, unlocking vast new areas for development.

Market for Turbines Above 5 MW Soars

This chart supports the section’s focus on bigger turbines by projecting that the ‘Above 5 MW’ segment, which includes new 15 MW models, will dominate the market.

(Source: Grand View Research)

The Race for 2030: Scale, Competition, and Supply Chains

The European offshore wind market in 2025 is a dynamic arena defined by a race for scale and a clear competitive dynamic. While Ørsted leverages its vast operational portfolio to maintain its lead, RWE’s aggressive and successful auction strategy positions it as the primary challenger. The success of the entire industry in meeting ambitious 2030 climate targets is underpinned by strong government backing, with policies like the UK’s AR 7 providing the certainty needed to build out Europe’s top offshore wind projects. Looking forward, the most critical challenge will be ensuring the resilience of the supply chain. The ability of key manufacturers like Vestas and GE Vernova to deliver an unprecedented volume of ever-larger turbines will ultimately determine whether Europe can maintain its global leadership against growing competition from the US, which has faced its own project development challenges, and a rapidly expanding Asian market.

Europe’s Wind Installations Set to Surge

This chart directly illustrates the ‘Race for 2030’ by forecasting a dramatic surge in annual installations, showing how the industry plans to meet ambitious targets.

(Source: Julius Baer)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the biggest offshore wind company in Europe in 2025?

Denmark’s Ørsted is the undisputed market leader in 2025, commanding an operational offshore wind capacity of 10.2 GW, with another 8.1 GW under construction.

Which company is challenging Ørsted for the top spot?

German utility RWE is the most aggressive challenger to Ørsted. In 2025, RWE made a significant move by securing nearly 6.9 GW of new capacity in the UK’s Allocation Round 7, as part of its strategy to triple its capacity to 10 GW by 2030.

What is the most important country for European offshore wind development in 2025?

The UK solidified its position as Europe’s most important offshore wind market in 2025, driven by its landmark Allocation Round 7 which awarded a record 8.4 GW of new capacity. Poland is also noted as an emerging hotspot.

What major technological milestone was achieved in 2025?

The key technological milestone in 2025 was the first-ever installation of a 15 MW-class turbine. Specifically, Vestas installed its powerful V236-15.0 MW turbine at the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Farm in Poland.

How are the large-scale projects like the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm developed?

Mega-projects like Dogger Bank are developed through a collaborative ecosystem. Specialist developers like SSE Renewables (who leads development) and Equinor (who will be the operator) partner to manage the project, while technology leaders like GE Vernova supply the critical hardware, such as the Haliade-X turbines.

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