The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has launched a prior public consultation to design the first offshore wind auction in SpainThis is the administrative step that was missing to begin specifying how, where and under what conditions the first commercial offshore wind farms will be deployed in Spanish waters.
The initiative is aimed at companies, administrations, social entities and interested citizens, who will be able to submit their proposals. between February 4 and 24, 2026 through the form available on the Ministry's website. Your contributions will help shape the ministerial order that will establish the foundations of the competitive bidding procedureThat is, the auction model that will be used to allocate the projects.
A new regulatory framework for offshore wind
The consultation falls within the Royal Decree 962/2024, of September 24This royal decree, which regulates the production of energy from renewable sources in offshore installations, creates a single competitive bidding procedure which allows deciding, in a single call, three key elements: the economic regime of the projects, the reservation of access capacity in the electricity transport network and the priority in the concession of occupation of the public maritime-terrestrial domain.
With this scheme, the Government intends to avoid scattered procedures and provide greater certainty to developers, since The awarding of the auction will be linked to network access and the use of marine space.. The ministerial order The document now under review will specify the particular rules of the first auction: areas where competition will be possible, size of the parks, deadlines and valuation criteria.
The deployment must be adjusted to the Maritime Spatial Planning Plans (POEM)approved in 2023, these regulations define the so-called high-potential zones for offshore wind. Outside of these areas, it will not be possible to locate installations, making spatial planning a central element of the entire process.
The royal decree also opens the door to Up to 30% of the score for the bids should be based on criteria that are not purely economic.These include environmental impact, industrial opportunity, compatibility with other uses of the sea, innovation, and social support for projects, in line with the requirements of the European regulation. Net Zero Industry Act on sustainability, cybersecurity and execution capacity.
Power objectives and European context
The Offshore Wind and Ocean Energy Roadmap, along with the update of National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2023-2030They maintain as a benchmark that Spain can achieve between 1 and 3 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind installed by 2030This objective is conceived both as a decarbonization tool and as a lever for consolidating a distinct industrial value chain. Offshore Wind Roadmap serves as a framework for these estimates.
In the rest of Europe, offshore wind has progressed much more rapidly: the continent already has around 37 GW of installed offshore powerMost are in fixed-foundation parks located in relatively shallow waters, especially in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The Spanish case is different, because most of the coast has very deep seabeds a short distance from the shore.
This geographical reality forces us to opt for floating offshore wind technologyWhile still less mature and more expensive than fixed-lift docks, this sector offers a window of opportunity for Spanish companies to position themselves in a segment with strong international potential. Shipyards, floating structure manufacturers, ports, and engineering firms already have experience in pilot projects both within and outside of Spain.
The sector has been demanding for months that regulation be accelerated to avoid falling behind other European countries that have a head start. The opening of this public consultation is interpreted as a key move to unlock a long-awaited deploymentHowever, the timelines remain tight: even with an auction underway, the first retail parks could take between eight and ten years to become operational. The government aims for regulation is accelerated without compromising technical or environmental quality.
What is asked in the consultation: areas, power and design of the parks
The questionnaire launched by MITECO addresses first the selection of the high potential areas defined in the POEMParticipants are asked to indicate which areas they consider most suitable for this first procedure and whether it is preferable to choose several competing areas or to concentrate the effort in a single location.
The ministerial order must also establish the power to be bid in this first auction and the design of the tender itself. The Ministry is considering whether it is more advantageous to auction a single large-scale wind farm in a specific area or to distribute the power among several smaller wind farms. Behind this decision lie issues such as the signal sent to the supply chain, the actual implementation capacity, and the impact on the surrounding area.
Another open question is the delimitation of the minimum requirements that promoters must meet in order to participate. The stated objective is to maximize the execution rate of awarded projects, preventing winning facilities from ending up unbuilt due to a lack of technical or financial solvency or accumulated delays.
In parallel, the consultation seeks input on the optimal size of the parks, the target power output of each facility, and the advisability of structuring the auction into several lots. This design could impact competition among companies, the entry of new players, and the geographical distribution of projects in the medium term.
Evaluation criteria: beyond the price of energy
In addition to deciding where and how much power will be auctioned, the Ministry is raising a debate about the criteria for evaluating offersThe form asks agents to prioritize aspects such as the offered energy price, minimizing environmental impact, industrial opportunity, compatibility of uses with activities such as fishing, social and institutional support, and technological innovation.
Royal Decree 962/2024 allows that Up to 30% of the total score will be based on non-economic criteriaThe consultation also asks whether any of these criteria should become mandatory requirements for participation, instead of just being an element that adds points to the evaluation.
online with the Net Zero Industry ActThe document notes that renewable energy auctions in the European Union must incorporate requirements on responsible business conduct, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, execution capacity, and contribution to sustainability goals. Spain must adapt its auction design to this framework, and therefore the opinions of industry and other stakeholders may influence how these requirements are implemented.
Another aspect that is being consulted is the possibility of including citizen investment mechanisms in the awarded projects. This would explore the possibility of distributing part of the financing and economic returns among local investors or small savers, something that has already been tested in other countries to increase public acceptance of large renewable energy infrastructures.
You are also invited to submit proposals specific technological requirements that may be advantageous for environmental or industrial reasons: minimum efficiency standards, conditions on component recyclability, underwater noise reduction solutions or other measures that improve integration with the marine environment.
Economic regime, market risks and deadlines
The economic section of the questionnaire focuses on how to structure the support scheme for offshore wind farmsThe question is what the maximum timeframe should be for the commissioning of the facilities after the award and what the duration of the economic regime should be, a parameter that determines the minimum and maximum auction energy required of the projects.
In this context, the Ministry is exploring whether it makes sense index the award price to variables such as the price of steel or copper in the period between the auction's resolution and the parks becoming operational. The objective would be to better manage the risks arising from the volatility of key material costs in an investment-intensive sector.
Another issue that concerns both the regulator and the developers is that of the hours at zero price in the electricity marketThese outages are becoming increasingly common in systems with high renewable energy penetration. The consultation seeks suggestions on strategies to minimize the impact of these hours on the economic viability of projects, for example, through specific contract designs or complementary mechanisms.
Regarding procedural deadlines, MITECO has set that the submission of comments will take place exclusively through the web form and within the twenty days allowed, from February 4 to 24, 2026. In general, contributions may be made public, unless the sender clearly delimits which parts are confidential.
This entire design is articulated within a competitive bidding procedure which seeks to balance cost for the electricity system, legal certainty and real project execution capacity, in a context where international experience shows both successes and difficulties in offshore wind.
Industrial impact, employment and Spain's role in floating wind power
Beyond regulatory design, the consultation is interpreted as the starting gun for activating a sector that has been preparing the ground for years. Studies prepared for the industry estimate that Floating offshore wind power could mobilize investments of several billion euros in the next decade and generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, especially in shipyards, ports, component manufacturing and specialized technical services.
Spain already has one value chain prominent in floating offshore windPublic and private companies have participated in the design and construction of platforms, the manufacture of wind turbines, and international projects. Furthermore, European funding has been granted to adapt port infrastructure and to promote pilot projects that validate the technology under real operating conditions.
In parallel, the Government has allocated funds from programs such as the PERTE renewable energy program to support R&D, prototypes, and logistical adaptations. Also under consideration are numerous preliminary applications and environmental impact assessments for projects located along various coastlines, although Any effective development will be contingent upon the results of future auctions..
At the European level, Spain's commitment to floating offshore wind comes at a time when some markets have shown signs of saturation or uncertainty. The government seeks to position Spain as a attractive destination for offshore investment, relying on abundant wind resources, industrial experience and alignment with the European Union's climate and energy objectives.
With the launch of this preliminary public consultation, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) is taking a decisive step to regulate the expansion of offshore wind in Spanish waters, defining rules of the game that combine economic competitiveness, environmental protection, social acceptance, and industrial return. The decisions made now regarding areas, allocated power, evaluation criteria, and the economic framework will determine the pace at which the first generation of offshore wind farms in Spain can develop and, to a large extent, the role the country will play in European offshore wind in the coming years.
