A new initiative, WindSCORE, has begun to create a 360-degree evaluation system for offshore wind projects. The project’s goal is to support more comprehensive assessments and improve decision-making in the sector.
Launched in December 2025, WindSCORE is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) with a European consortium that includes partners from Germany, Norway, and France such as Fondation Open-C, SINTEF, Statnett, TÜV SÜD, Bio-Littoral, and Equinor.
The project is co-funded by the EU’s Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) and national organizations including Germany’s PTJ/BMWE, France’s RPL, and Norway’s RCN.
Over three years, WindSCORE aims to develop a toolbox that integrates economic, technical, sustainability, and social criteria into a single framework for offshore wind developments.
The initiative addresses the increasing complexity in the offshore wind sector, with changing tender designs, new technologies, difficult locations, and added focus on environmental and social factors.
Current assessment methods often cover only specific aspects like cost or technical risk. WindSCORE intends to unify these into a 360° KPI-based system, benefiting investors, authorities, and stakeholders.
“The offshore wind industry is essential for the energy transition. To ensure long-term acceptance and minimize value chain risks, WindSCORE is creating a transparent, comprehensible 360° KPI-based evaluation system,” said Marcel Wiggert of Fraunhofer IWES.
Gard Hopsdal Hansen, Centre Director for FME NorthWind at SINTEF, added: “Effective decisions on offshore wind require tools that clarify its complexity and provide a holistic view of the opportunities and challenges for nature and society.”
WindSCORE will incorporate indicators like sustainability, technical innovation (including floating wind), system integration, operations, maintenance efficiency, and social impacts such as regional value creation. The aim is to enhance tender criteria, foster social acceptance, and reduce risks in project planning and implementation.
Fraunhofer IWES will lead technical tasks including site analysis, electricity cost modeling, and life-cycle evaluations, with partners contributing expertise in grid operations and socio-economic and ecological assessments. The results are expected to shape draft industry standards and support broader sustainable offshore wind energy deployment in Europe.
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