(Update 1:10 p.m. CET: Vattenfall informs that in spite of prior statements that the company is assessing its plans for the Norfolk projects, there are no plans to postpone Norfolk Boreas. However, the company declines to elaborate any further on the meaning of the statements.)

The biggest event of the year in the offshore industry will undoubtedly be the UK's fourth Contract for Difference round. Aside from a GPB 55m pool for floating wind, among other things, the biggest pool of GPB 200m for fixed-bottom offshore winder also promises massive awards. So much so that the importance of the fact that power-hungry UK abandoned the original cap of 12GW this fall cannot be dismissed beforehand.

However, the event might not see the involvement of one of its biggest players. Although Vattenfall has an approved and therefore obvious project in the form of the 1.8GW Norfolk Boreas, it's not certain that the utility would accept a potential allocation.

The project is envisaged as a twin farm with a total capacity of 3.6GW. However, the one twin, Norfolk Vanguard, had its plan approval revoked, and it hasn't been reinstated due to a dispute regarding the landfall facilities. As a result, Vattenfall was unable to make a bid for the Vanguard project ahead of the deadline for the tender on Jan. 14.

"When it comes to Vanguard, we're actually expecting that anytime. But we are also dwelling on what we should do with these projects – and in what time period," says Vattenfall CEO Anna Borg.

"Because, of course, there are a lot of synergies in developing them in parallel, so we're looking into that right now, and the answer is not there yet. We will come back once we're decided."

If Vattenfall opts to postpone Norfolk Boreas, it will not only have an impact on the company and potentially the British round of tendering. In November, the Swedish utility picked Siemens Gamesa as its preferred supplier and its upcoming SG 14-236 offshore turbine for the project. This was contingent on participation – and a winning bid – in the British CfD round.

Iberdrola's huge UK cluster foregoes 1.7GW offshore wind auction  

Court quashes consent for 1.8-GW Vattenfall project

UK delays license for major Vattenfall offshore wind project 

Vattenfall selects Aker Solutions, Siemens Energy for 3.6 GW in North Sea