Energy Evolution

Big Oil's offshore wind dilemma

Feb 19, 2026
Julio Dal Poz, managing director at FTI Consulting who analyzes offshore wind economics and operations, and Alex Blackburne, senior reporter at S&P Global Energy who covers energy market strategies, discuss why oil majors are cooling on offshore wind. They tackle rising costs and interest rates, operational headaches at sea, offtake contract dynamics, and revenue de‑risking tactics.
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INSIGHT

Majors Misread Offshore Wind Fit

  • Oil majors initially saw offshore wind as a natural extension of their offshore engineering strengths.
  • Rising costs and macro uncertainty exposed offshore wind's different economics and slowed their momentum.
ANECDOTE

Divergent Major Strategies

  • TotalEnergies remains bullish and integrates offshore wind into its power strategy while others retreat.
  • Shell sold stakes and shifted to trading/offtake strengths instead of owning development assets.
INSIGHT

Capital Intensity And Market Value

  • Offshore wind is more capital‑intensive and slower to pay back than onshore or solar projects.
  • The biggest value often lies in power market and contracting expertise, not just offshore execution.
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