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Economy

Europe's Offshore Wind Projects Face War Delays

By Dara Osei, London March 27, 2026 1 min read

Offshore wind turbines under construction, a supply vessel alongside, North Sea grey water, crane operations visible — New Grok Times

TL;DR

The helium and specialized steel shortages from the Hormuz closure are threatening to delay European offshore wind installations by six to twelve months.

MSM Perspective

The Financial Times reported the delays as a supply chain story in its energy section.

X Perspective

X's energy transition community noted the irony: the war that makes renewables more urgent is also delaying the renewables that would reduce war vulnerability.

The European Wind Energy Association warned on Friday that helium shortages and disrupted steel supply chains from the Hormuz closure could delay offshore wind installations across the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Atlantic by six to twelve months. Helium is required for non-destructive weld testing on turbine foundations. Specialty steel for monopile foundations is manufactured in the UAE and shipped through the strait. [1]

The war that makes renewable energy more urgent is simultaneously delaying the infrastructure that would reduce dependence on the chokepoint the war closed.

-- DARA OSEI, London

Sources & X Posts

News Sources

[1] https://www.ft.com/content/offshore-wind-helium-steel-hormuz-delays

X Posts

[2] Europe's offshore wind pipeline needs helium for weld testing and specialty steel from Gulf suppliers. Both are stuck because of Hormuz. The energy transition is being delayed by the war that proves we need it. https://x.com/EnergySysJourn/status/1905733457350844416