SONFOR seeks new partner for Lillebælt Syd after the departure of TotalEnergies
SONFOR will acquire a majority stake in Lillebælt Vind A/S after TotalEnergies decided to withdraw from Lillebælt Syd. The Danish company will spend the coming months searching for a new partner and reviewing the financial terms of the offshore wind project.
Meanwhile, European Energy will continue to be involved in the development as a minority shareholder; the company has been part of the project since 2022 and will remain in its structure after the change of ownership.
SONFOR will assume control of the Lillebælt Syd project
Following TotalEnergies' exit, SONFOR will acquire a majority stake in the company responsible for developing Lillebælt Syd. This move gives the Danish company greater control over the future of the offshore wind farm .
From now on, SONFOR will study possible partners capable of joining the project; the process will also serve to determine if the current conditions allow continuing with the development under an economically viable model.
According to the planned schedule, this evaluation should be completed before the end of June 2027; until then, the future of Lillebælt Syd will depend both on the search for a new investor and on the outcome of the financial analysis.
The economic viability of the wind farm will be reviewed.
Furthermore, the change in shareholders comes at a time when conditions in the offshore wind energy market have changed considerably. SONFOR acknowledges this scenario and will use the evaluation period to review the economic outlook for Lillebælt Syd.
Therefore, having the necessary permits and having made progress in its development does not, in itself, guarantee that the project will continue under the conditions established so far. The company will have to analyze the costs and determine what structure allows it to move forward.
Even so, SONFOR maintains that Lillebælt Syd retains its importance for the electricity supply and for the local development of the Sønderborg area.
Lillebælt Syd maintains permissions and network connection
Lillebælt Syd has already taken several steps toward construction. The project has completed its environmental impact studies and obtained the necessary permits. It also has an agreement in place to connect to the electrical grid .
Therefore, the search for a partner begins when a significant portion of the preliminary procedures has already been completed. SONFOR's challenge now lies in determining whether this progress can translate into a project with suitable financial terms to continue.
Eleven turbines would increase capacity to 165 MW
Regarding its characteristics, the offshore wind project includes the installation of eleven turbines. Each unit will have a capacity of 15 MW, bringing the total planned capacity to 165 MW.
Furthermore, Lillebælt Syd could achieve an approximate electricity production of 650 GWh per year . These figures maintain the project's status as a significant initiative for electricity generation in the Sønderborg area.
Lillebælt Syd has accumulated more than a decade of development
Lillebælt Syd originated in 2011 as a local initiative to develop a wind farm . Subsequently, SONFOR took over the project from the municipality of Sønderborg in 2020 with the aim of continuing its development and finding partners.
Then, European Energy joined in 2022, TotalEnergies joined two years later and went on to become the majority shareholder.
Now, the withdrawal of the French company again modifies the shareholding structure and leaves SONFOR at the head of a new stage for the project.
European Energy will remain a minority shareholder
For its part, European Energy will continue to participate in Lillebælt Vind A/S as a minority shareholder. Its continued involvement provides continuity to a structure that has seen several additions since SONFOR took over the development.
Furthermore, TotalEnergies' exit could extend beyond Lillebælt Syd. According to reports published by Danish media, the company is also withdrawing from Jammerland Bugt, another offshore wind energy project in which European Energy is a minority shareholder.
TotalEnergies' departure raises doubts about the calendar
Lillebælt Syd is initially scheduled to become operational between 2029 and 2030. However, this will depend on the outcome of SONFOR's review and determining who will partner with the company in the next phase.
Therefore, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the timeline can be maintained. The search for a partner and the financial review must be completed before SONFOR can define the next steps for the offshore wind farm.
What will happen now to Lillebælt Syd?
Finally, SONFOR has until the end of June 2027 to evaluate the available options. During this period, it will analyze potential partners and determine whether Lillebælt Syd can move forward under the new market conditions.
The project starts with a planned capacity of 165 MW, completed environmental studies, an installation permit, and a grid connection agreement. Now, an economic challenge arises: finding a structure that will allow Lillebælt Syd to reach the construction phase and maintain its target of entering service between 2029 and 2030.
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