The offshore wind partnership is set to encompass shared business opportunities, knowledge exchange, and coordinated supply chain growth spanning both countries. Norwegian Offshore Wind, which represents approximately 300 member companies, operates 15 working groups across the offshore wind value chain and counts more than 80 businesses within its dedicated UK working group alone an organisation with an explicit mandate to build globally competitive supply chains. Humber Marine and Renewables, for its part, was established in 2022 following the merger of Team Humber Marine Renewables and the Grimsby Renewables Partnership, consolidating the Humber region’s industry voice into a single body with more than 80 members active across what is commonly referred to as the UK’s Energy Estuary.

Tor Arne Johnsen, business development manager at Norwegian Offshore Wind, underlined why the Humber was an attractive counterpart: “The Humber combines gigawatt-scale operational capacity, a multi-GW project pipeline, and strong offshore wind supply chains. With Humber Marine and Renewables, we have an ideal partner for creating opportunities for our members and building partnerships across the North Sea. This MoU cements a stronger cooperation and a platform for further cooperation in the years to come.” Camilla Carlbom Flinn, vice chair of Humber Marine and Renewables, echoed that sentiment, pointing to two decades of world-leading offshore wind activity in the Humber before adding: “Norway has been a friend through fishing and seafood supply, and now we’re harnessing the power from our expansive coastlines too. Humber Marine and Renewables is proud to officially partner with Norwegian Offshore Wind. We aren’t just connecting two regions; we are bridging the North Sea in the true spirit of innovation and shared delivery. Together, our respective members will unlock new opportunities, drive technological advancements, and accelerate the growth of the offshore wind industry.”

Practically, the MoU will see both organisations collaborate on industry events, trade delegations, and supply chain engagement, including joint participation at conferences such as Offshore Wind Connections and Floating Wind Days, as well as shared bootcamps and supplier-focused networking events held across the UK and Norway.

All four projects are currently in the development stage. The first among them are expected to reach ready-to-build status in 2028, contingent upon obtaining all necessary permits. Should the entire portfolio be fully developed and constructed, it is projected to represent an investment volume exceeding €700 million. Once operational, the projects are expected to deliver approximately 900 GWh of renewable electricity annually to the Norwegian power system, bolstering renewable generation capacity within the NO1 price area. The sheer scale of this solar storage partnership underscores both parties’ commitment to advancing clean energy infrastructure across the Nordic region.

Through this expanded collaboration, Landinfra and Eiffel intend to combine their complementary strengths. Landinfra brings deep project origination and development capabilities across the Nordics, while Eiffel contributes its extensive track record in financing and supporting renewable energy infrastructure development throughout Europe. The partnership leverages these combined resources to address growing demand for new sources of renewable energy in Norway.

Marcus Landelin, CEO and Co-Founder of Landinfra, commented: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Eiffel to include a portfolio of large scale solar power projects with co-located battery energy storage in Norway. Eiffel is a leading European asset manager with extensive experience from development partnerships and infrastructure financing. Together, we bring the capabilities, experience, and financial strength required to develop new and much-needed renewable electricity generation in NO1.”

Laurent Coubret, Investment Director and Fund Manager at Eiffel, added: “Norway represents a compelling opportunity for renewable energy development, and this portfolio is a strong addition to our growing Nordic presence. We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Landinfra, which has proven being an ideal partner in the Nordics. Expanding our collaboration with them into Norway is a natural next step. This transaction reflects Eiffel’s conviction in the long-term value of utility scale solar and battery storage across Europe, and our commitment to supporting the energy transition with both capital and operational know-how.”

The agreement positions both Landinfra and Eiffel as key contributors to Norway’s evolving renewable energy landscape. With nearly 900 GWh of projected annual clean electricity output, the portfolio would make a meaningful contribution to the country’s solar power capacity. The focus on co-located battery storage also reflects a broader industry trend toward pairing generation assets with storage solutions to enhance grid stability and energy dispatch flexibility. As the energy transition gains momentum across Europe, this expanded Nordic partnership between Landinfra and Eiffel signals a strong and growing appetite for utility scale solar and battery storage development in the region.

Located on the North Sea coast, Sizewell B delivers nearly 1.2 gigawatts of electricity to the national grid and remains the UK’s only pressurised-water reactor. EDF noted that recent fluctuations in energy markets have highlighted the need for a structure that can limit commercial risks and provide sufficient certainty for long-term investment decisions. The company stated: “Volatility in the energy markets over the past few years has reinforced the importance of securing a suitable model to reduce commercial risks and enable that investment decision.”

Centrica holds a 20% interest in Britain’s existing nuclear fleet through its stake in EDF Energy’s UK nuclear generation business, which includes Sizewell B. Earlier this year, EDF’s UK business said that extending the station’s operating life was technically achievable and confirmed that discussions with the government were underway to secure the investment needed to proceed with the project.

Reports indicated that EDF and Centrica are nearing a draft agreement with the UK government regarding the future of the Sizewell B Nuclear Plant. According to those reports, the companies are close to reaching a heads of terms agreement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with a formal announcement expected within weeks. The proposed arrangement would provide the framework necessary to advance the life-extension programme and support continued nuclear power generation from the facility over the coming decades.

Launched in May 2025, CISAF forms part of the broader Clean Industrial Deal, an EU initiative focused on accelerating decarbonisation efforts, improving industrial competitiveness and addressing climate-related challenges. The Italian programme will operate through contracts for difference (CfDs), a mechanism that provides renewable energy producers with support based on a predetermined strike price for every kilowatt hour supplied to the grid. If market electricity prices fall below the agreed level, the state will compensate developers for the difference. When prices rise above the strike price, developers will return the excess value to the state. The contracts will remain valid for 20 years, offering long-term revenue certainty while limiting the risk of excessive public support costs.

Financial support will be allocated through a transparent and non-discriminatory competitive bidding system in which developers submit strike-price bids required to make projects economically viable. Italy also plans to conduct a separate auction process for solar and wind installations exceeding one megawatt in capacity, with these projects subject to additional regulatory requirements. Smaller projects below one megawatt will be able to receive support without entering competitive auctions, with strike prices set administratively by ARERA, Italy’s energy regulator.

The European Commission stated that the €23 billion budget is based on current expectations for future electricity market prices, although the actual level of net public support could be lower if wholesale electricity prices remain stronger than anticipated. According to the Commission, the Clean Power Programme complies fully with CISAF requirements and will play an important role in helping Italy achieve its target of sourcing 39.4 percent of gross final energy consumption from renewables by 2030. The initiative is also expected to contribute to lower electricity prices over time, reduce reliance on imported energy and support the objectives of both the Clean Industrial Deal and REPowerEU in strengthening energy security and advancing a more resilient energy system.

According to the company, hydrogen-fuelled engines could play an important role in balancing future electricity networks while avoiding carbon emissions. Rather than relying on hydrogen fuel cell technology, the system uses a large combustion engine specifically modified to run on pure hydrogen. Wärtsilä said the approach offers a pathway for supporting grid stability as renewable energy adoption continues to expand. The successful test demonstrated the engine’s ability to supply electricity directly to the national grid, highlighting its potential as a flexible power-generation solution.

The company also indicated that the technology could be deployed at a much larger scale. Multiple engine units may eventually be integrated into utility-scale facilities capable of producing hundreds of megawatts of electricity. Such installations could provide backup generation capacity and support electricity systems increasingly dependent on variable renewable energy sources.

Despite the milestone, industry observers note that significant challenges remain before widespread deployment can occur. Expanding hydrogen-based power generation would require substantial investment across hydrogen production, storage and transportation infrastructure. Experts also point to the need for stronger policy frameworks to encourage broader adoption. The test comes as Spain continues to increase renewable energy capacity, with wind and solar power representing an expanding share of the country’s electricity mix. The achievement places the hydrogen engine technology at the centre of ongoing efforts to develop low-carbon solutions capable of supporting future power grids.

The renewable energy assets include 13 operational wind farms with a combined capacity of 402MW alongside six photovoltaic solar parks delivering 303MW. Beyond the existing operational infrastructure, the agreement encompasses potential for over 565MW of additional capacity through hybridisation initiatives involving future wind, solar, and battery storage installations. Representatives from both organizations finalized the agreement in Abu Dhabi, with Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and Repsol’s low-carbon generation executive managing director João Costeira signing the transaction.

The transaction is expected to reach completion by the end of 2026, contingent upon standard regulatory approvals. This Masdar acquires renewable energy assets through what represents the company’s eighth major renewables transaction within its strategic expansion framework. The transaction brings Repsol’s total renewable capacity rotated across Spain and the United States to 3.85GW, with the company currently maintaining 6GW of renewable generation in operation.

Repsol utilized syndicated financing arranged in December 2025 to support the portfolio, securing €550 million through leading financial institutions including Abanca Corporación Bancaria, Banco Sabadell, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Spain’s Instituto de Crédito Oficial, and UniCredit Bank. According to João Costeira, “This agreement marks another step forward in our strategy to maximise profitability, enabling us to bring in a leading global partner in the renewable energy sector, while further strengthening the value of our high-quality asset portfolio.”

For Repsol, this transaction forms part of a broader asset rotation strategy within its renewables division designed to enhance financial efficiency, facilitate development with strategic partners, and strategically diversify its renewable energy holdings. The approach reflects the company’s commitment to optimizing its renewable energy portfolio while maintaining operational excellence across existing assets.

Masdar’s acquisition directly supports its ambitious objective to increase renewable energy holdings in strategic markets while advancing toward 100GW of worldwide operational capacity by 2030. Upon completion of the transaction, Masdar will maintain 4.1GW of renewable capacity in operation across the Iberian Peninsula, with approximately 1GW currently under development. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi stated: “Spain is one of Europe’s fastest-growing major economies, and renewable energy is playing a critical role in powering that growth. This transaction strengthens Masdar’s portfolio, while deepening our support for Spain’s economic ambitions. We look forward to investing in the growth of these assets, and to building on our strong partnership with Repsol.”

The transaction underscores Masdar’s strategic positioning within European renewable energy markets and reflects broader trends of international investment in Spain’s clean energy infrastructure expansion.

Under the structure announced by the ministry, 5GW will be allocated to fixed-bottom wind farms and another 5GW to floating wind farms. Fixed-bottom installations rely on turbines secured to foundations on the seabed and represent the more mature and generally lower-cost technology. Floating developments, by contrast, use platforms anchored to the seabed, allowing turbines to operate in deeper waters where conventional foundations may not be feasible. However, these projects typically involve additional costs linked to platform design, mooring systems and installation requirements. Companies interested in the developments will have four months to submit bids, with successful applicants expected to be selected in February 2027.

The timetable aligns with the French government’s objective of advancing the commitments outlined in the Energy Planning Law released in late February. Selecting winning bidders in early 2027 would enable progress on those targets before the next presidential election scheduled for April. The political backdrop remains significant, as the far-right National Rally, which opposes offshore wind development, is considered a strong contender to reach the election’s second round.

To support investment certainty, project operators will receive contracts for differences that guarantee a price mechanism. Under this framework, the state compensates operators when market prices fall below the agreed level, while operators return excess revenue when prices rise above it. The ministry also intends to encourage turbine maintenance during periods of low electricity prices to help limit negative pricing caused by renewable energy oversupply. In addition, the offshore wind projects will be subject to strict environmental requirements, including rules governing components manufactured outside Europe.

Among the newly confirmed wind energy orders is a 35 MW project for the Rheine-Catenhorn community wind farm in North Rhine-Westphalia. Nordex will supply and install five N163/6.X turbines at a hub height of 164 metres for this project. The order was placed in cooperation with project developer BBWind and will be developed as a community wind project, underlining the growing relevance of local participation models in advancing wind energy Germany-wide.

Community wind farms allow municipalities and local residents to participate directly in the revenues generated by the installations while also benefiting from modern turbine technology. Karsten Brüggemann, Vice President Region Central of the Nordex Group, commented on the significance of this segment: “Community wind farms play a central role in Germany’s energy transition. They combine economic benefits with local acceptance and enable people in the vicinity to participate directly in the energy transition. We are very pleased to implement another project together with BBWind in this important segment and thus further advance the expansion of wind energy.”

Michael Schlüß, Managing Director of BBWind, added: “For us as specialists in community wind projects, Nordex is an important and experienced partner within our manufacturer network.”

The working relationship between Nordex and BBWind dates back to 2014, with the two companies having already connected 26 Nordex turbines from the Delta and Delta4000 series to the grid in North Rhine-Westphalia, representing over 100 MW of installed capacity. In recent months, Nordex has also received further orders from BBWind totalling 78 MW, all exclusively for community wind farms in the region.

The identities of the remaining customers and wind farm locations are not being disclosed at this time. Construction and commissioning of all wind energy projects under these wind energy orders are scheduled between summer 2027 and spring 2028.

The initiative comes as climate and energy policy remain central priorities for the EU. Policymakers are seeking to maintain ambitious emissions-reduction targets while addressing concerns from governments and energy-intensive industries over the financial burden associated with carbon costs. The issue has gained additional attention amid worries that Europe is losing competitiveness relative to China and the United States. Brussels estimates that carbon costs contribute around 11% of electricity prices on average, although the impact varies across member states. Countries such as Poland, where carbon-related costs account for a significantly larger share of power bills, have advocated measures that could ease the economic challenges of the energy transition. The proposed EU Carbon Market initiative is being structured with these concerns in mind.

Further details are expected on July 15 when the European Commission presents its review of the ETS, the bloc’s flagship cap-and-trade emissions framework. People familiar with the matter said allowances for the new mechanism will be drawn from the ETS reserve for new entrants as well as an existing pool of free permits that can be allocated to companies undertaking low-carbon investments. The commission was not immediately available for comment.

The new tool is expected to form part of the EU Industrial Decarbonization Bank, a broader financing framework that could mobilize €100 billion for energy-transition investments. Once published, the ETS review will move to discussions involving the European Parliament and EU member states in the Council. Both institutions will have the opportunity to propose amendments during the legislative process, which can extend for up to two years. Among the options being considered is an accelerated approach to permit sales under the booster mechanism, a move that could help advance industrial decarbonization efforts. The outcome of the review is likely to play an important role in shaping the future direction of the EU Carbon Market.

Alongside performance requirements, the Commission is developing a sustainability label for data centres that would require major facilities to disclose information related to areas such as water consumption and clean energy sourcing. According to officials cited by Reuters, discussions are continuing on several aspects of the framework, including the methodology for assessing facilities powered by nuclear energy. The Commission said the proposed rules are intended to strengthen incentives for improved energy efficiency and sustainability while enhancing transparency and comparability across member states through a common reporting and rating structure established under the Energy Efficiency Directive.

The Commission warned that delaying action could make future challenges more difficult to manage as the sector’s energy use continues to increase. It stated, “If not tackled at EU level now, these challenges could grow considerably and become harder to ‌solve in ⁠the coming years, as the energy consumption of the sector is expected to increase further.” Projections indicate that data centre capacity across the EU will expand from 12 GW in 2025 to 28 gigawatts by 2030. As a result, their share of regional electricity consumption is expected to rise beyond the current level of 2.5%.

Highlighting the strategic importance of efficiency measures, the Commission said, “Energy efficiency is a central pillar of the EU’s energy and climate framework, as well as being a key policy for delivering energy savings, improving affordability, and strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the European economy on its path to climate neutrality.” The International Energy Agency expects data centres to account for 20% of growth in electricity demand across advanced economies by 2030. The Commission is also preparing a post-2030 energy efficiency framework scheduled for publication later this year. Reuters reported that the plans form part of a wider technology package designed to expand domestic cloud and AI capabilities, reduce dependence on major technology companies, and support energy infrastructure through AI-enabled tools and permitting processes. The broader package further reinforces the role of EU Energy Standards in the bloc’s long-term digital and energy strategy.