The international energy procurement market is entering a new phase. Future tenders will no longer be limited to awarding solar or wind capacity , but will incorporate storage, firmness, flexibility, and availability during peak demand periods.
In this context, various countries are structuring tenders that reflect this transition. Germany plans to contract more than 11 GW of backup power between 2026 and 2027, France is preparing an offshore tender for close to 10 GW, and Australia is moving forward with rounds that combine new clean generation with batteries.
India is also expanding its firm and dispatchable renewable energy supply tenders , with projects that integrate different technologies.
The global landscape, however, reveals varying levels of maturity. The United Kingdom, India, and Australia have ongoing programs, while Spain, Belgium, and Denmark are working on preparing or reformulating their next mechanisms. Europe holds a significant share of offshore and self-sufficiency opportunities, while Asia-Pacific leads in the procurement of hybrid solutions and storage.
Europe concentrates firm capacity, storage and offshore wind power.
Germany is preparing one of the most important processes in the European market , with tenders that could mobilize more than 11 GW of firm capacity between 2026 and 2027.
The plan includes two calls for tenders totaling 4.5 GW during 2026 and another round of 2 GW in 2027. The objective is to incorporate resources capable of supporting the system during periods when solar and wind production is insufficient to meet demand.
The new market will coexist with the regular renewable energy auction schedule. This will allow the country to separate clean energy contracts from power availability payments , an attribute that gains value as conventional power plants are retired.
Technologies potentially interested include storage, flexible generation, and facilities designed to operate retrofitted with decarbonized fuels. The final requirements will determine which solutions will be eligible and what their technical obligations will be.
In parallel, Spain is working on preparing new calls for tenders under the Renewable Energy Economic Regime (REER), after a period in which national auctions lost prominence to private contracts.
The next rounds could include stricter requirements for flexibility, storage integration, and criteria related to project location. Their contribution to network management and the utilization of existing infrastructure is also being analyzed.
In parallel, the Government increased the resources allocated to wind power repowering, hydroelectric renewal, and other projects involving operational facilities. The reported additional budget amounts to €220 million.
This approach opens up opportunities beyond building new capacity. Modernizing existing parks allows for the reuse of connection points, reduces the territorial impact, and increases production without multiplying the number of facilities.
Within the same European axis, France launched a new round of large-scale offshore wind energy , linked to the implementation of its Multiannual Energy Programme.
The AO10 call for proposals includes projects distributed across different maritime areas and encompasses both fixed and floating foundation installations. In total, the capacity considered is approximately 10 GW.
The process creates opportunities for developers, wind turbine manufacturers, port operators, structural suppliers, and connection companies. The scale of the round also aims to consolidate an offshore industrial chain within the country.
France is positioning offshore wind as one of the pillars of its decarbonization strategy. Its success will depend on economic conditions taking into account the rising costs currently affecting European industry.
While France is investing in large offshore blocks, Italy is combining its capacity market with a specific mechanism for contracting energy storage. Both tools are complementary, although they address different system needs.
The Capacity Market remunerates the availability of power to guarantee electricity sufficiency. In parallel, the Electrical Storage Capacity Provisioning Mechanism, known as MACSE, facilitates the incorporation of new storage infrastructure.
The MACSE allows for the development of competitive procedures differentiated by technology and electrical zone. Selected projects must meet availability obligations and provide temporary energy displacement services.
The Italian design can enable long-life batteries and other solutions. The country seeks to prevent renewable energy growth from relying solely on systems with short discharge times.
Unlike the Italian approach, the United Kingdom maintains one of the most consolidated renewable contracting schemes in Europe through Contracts for Difference .
The model guarantees a reference price for the electricity produced and reduces the exposure of projects to wholesale market volatility. This predictability facilitates the financing of capital-intensive assets.
British rounds can include offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, and other low-carbon technologies. The consistent schedule allows developers to prepare their portfolios further in advance than in other markets.
The program is complemented by the Capacity Market, which contracts for future availability. Power plants, storage facilities, interconnections, and demand response resources that pass the prequalification stage can participate in this mechanism.
The Netherlands' SDE++ program , on the other hand, differs because it does not only remunerate renewable generation, but also the reduction of carbon emissions.
The scheme may include solar, wind, storage, hydrogen, renewable heat, and other industrial alternatives. The technologies compete based on their abatement capacity and the level of support requested.
This architecture makes the Dutch program one of the most comprehensive instruments on the continent. The opportunity extends beyond the electricity sector , as it also incorporates industrial processes and decarbonization solutions.
The available categories and budget change between calls for proposals. For this reason, developers should review each call and verify if their technology falls within the eligible categories.
Further east, Poland holds regular auctions for solar and wind projects , in parallel with the development of new opportunities in storage and offshore wind.
Transforming Poland's energy system requires gradually replacing a coal-based energy mix. This transition increases the demand for clean energy generation, grid infrastructure, and flexibility assets.
The Baltic Sea represents one of the main areas for future expansion. Offshore wind power can provide large blocks of capacity , although it will require investment in ports, transmission, and supply chains.
Challenges include connection times, network availability, and administrative procedures. These factors will determine the actual viability of each initiative.
In the north of the continent, Denmark is working on new offshore wind tenders after previous processes failed to generate the expected interest.
The government is considering more attractive conditions to regain the developers' participation. This review comes amid higher financing costs, increased component prices, and pressure on offshore profitability.
The outcome will be watched by the rest of Europe. The Danish experience will allow for an assessment of whether unsubsidized projects remain viable or whether states will have to assume a greater share of the risk.
The next calls for tenders could modify the guarantees, connection responsibilities, and remuneration schemes. The distribution of obligations will be crucial to attracting competitive bids.
With a model less focused on large national rounds , Portugal maintains its renewable expansion strategy , although state-level auctions lost prominence after the historic solar calls.
The market operates through private contracts, regulatory mechanisms, capacity allocation, and specific procedures. It also has timelines related to guarantees of origin.
The main expectations are focused on energy storage, electrical infrastructure, and offshore wind. The announcement of new tenders could restore scale to the Portuguese market and strengthen its export role within the Iberian Peninsula.
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The country has competitive renewable resources, but it needs to accelerate grid development and ensure economic signals to support investment in manageable projects.
In contrast, Ireland operates through two clearly differentiated programs: RESS for onshore renewables and ORESS for offshore wind .
The latest onshore round included in the shared information awarded more than 1 GW of solar and wind projects. In the offshore segment, ORESS 2.1 anticipates contracting up to 900 MW.
The quality of the wind resource makes the country a high-potential market. Meeting the objectives will depend on electrical grid connections, port infrastructure, and maritime planning.
Offshore development also requires coordinating permits, environmental studies, and supply chains. Effective timelines could be extended if these components do not progress simultaneously.
Belgium is also focusing its hopes on the North Sea and is working on relaunching the tender for the Princess Elisabeth Zone , one of the areas designated to expand offshore wind power.
The first procedure for the initial batch was cancelled. Subsequently, the Government began to define a new framework to improve the economic and legal viability of the tender.
The review aims to attract developers again and adjust support conditions. Until the final procedure is published, the opportunity should be considered upcoming, not fully open.
The area maintains strategic relevance due to its location and its potential to strengthen energy cooperation between the North Sea countries.
In that same offshore corridor, Norway is developing its market through fixed foundation projects and floating technology .
Sørlige Nordsjø II was the country's first major offshore auction. Its initial phase covers approximately 1.4 to 1.5 GW and was awarded to the Ventyr SN II consortium.
Utsira Nord is attracting the most technological interest. The area is reserved for floating wind turbines and includes a participant selection phase, followed by a state-supported auction.
The scheme will allow different proposals to be developed before competing for subsidies. This approach aims to reduce technical uncertainties in a technology that still has higher costs than parks with fixed foundations.
Asia-Pacific accelerates hybrid rounds and storage
India is one of the most important markets outside of Europe in terms of volume and diversity of tenders.
The Solar Energy Corporation of India and other public agencies are developing calls for proposals for solar, wind, hybrid, storage and permanent renewable supply.
Among the most relevant formats are Round-the-Clock and Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy projects. These models combine variable energy sources with batteries or other resources to deliver more stable energy profiles.
The shared information includes a firm renewable energy tender of 1500 MW and 6000 MWh, calls for batteries associated with renewables and a 2 GW wind power tender connected to the interstate grid.
The scale of the market and the growth in demand make India a top destination for developers and manufacturers. Projects, in turn, must consider connectivity risks, delivery obligations, and price competition.
With a different model than India, China does not operate exclusively through national auctions equivalent to European ones , but develops large-scale competitive processes and provincial programs.
Among its mechanisms are the selection of market projects, the purchase of state-owned companies, and the large solar and wind power plants installed in desert regions.
The country continues to experience the world's largest renewable energy expansion. Access requires understanding provincial regulations, industry requirements, and the involvement of public companies.
The opportunities can reach higher volumes than in other regions, although they have a different regulatory and commercial structure than a conventional open tender.
At the opposite end of the region, Australia stands out for integrating renewable generation and storage contracts through the Capacity Investment Scheme .
The program includes one line for new clean production and another for dispatchable capacity, primarily batteries. Both receive long-term agreements designed to reduce revenue risks.
Among the calls mentioned are a round of 5 GW of renewable generation and another of 4 GW and 16 GWh of dispatchable capacity .
A previous phase selected 7.8 GW of renewable projects and 7.9 GWh of associated storage. The scale of these figures positions Australia among the most attractive markets for large-scale battery systems.
The scheme also allows for coordinating the needs of each jurisdiction with national objectives. The bidding rounds aim to support the retirement of coal-fired power plants without compromising the reliability of supply.
Africa and the Middle East expand their centralized programs
South Africa continues to be the leading African benchmark in competitive procurement of renewable energy.
The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has accumulated several rounds for solar photovoltaic and onshore wind projects.
The country is also developing specific processes for battery systems. Energy storage is gaining importance due to supply problems, grid constraints, and the need to integrate new renewable generation.
The program offers a proven track record, although participants should analyze financial risks, transmission availability, and execution capacity.
Unlike the South African program, Saudi Arabia promotes large solar and wind projects through a highly centralized structure in the National Renewable Energy Program.
The Sustainable Energy Procurement Company leads the processes and structures long-term purchase agreements for the selected facilities.
Previous projects include Sudair Solar, with 1.5 GW, and Shuaibah Solar, with 600 MW. The new bidding rounds could add several additional GW , supported by land availability and economic diversification goals.
The Saudi market combines scale, low solar costs, and strong state control. Competition typically attracts large international developers and financially sound consortiums.
From allocating energy to contracting attributes
The global analysis shows a common trend: governments are looking to add renewable power along with resources capable of responding to the operational needs of the system.
Germany and the UK contract availability; Italy creates a specific market for storage; India demands firm supply; and Australia separates clean generation from dispatchable capacity.
France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and Norway account for a significant portion of the upcoming offshore portfolio. In these markets, success will depend on the design of the auctions, port infrastructure, networks, and industrial supply chains.
The comparison also requires distinguishing between open processes, announced timelines, and mechanisms still in preparation. A political declaration or a regulatory reform is not equivalent to a call for proposals with specifications, dates, and defined capacity.
For investors, the announced volume represents only one part of the analysis. Contract duration, guarantees, penalties, permits, connectivity, and availability obligations must also be considered.
The next wave of renewable energy will be characterized by projects capable of producing clean electricity and providing reliability, flexibility, and storage. Ultimately, the race for gigawatts will be a competition to offer comprehensive solutions to the electricity system.