Danish utility Sonfor has taken majority control of the Lillebælt Syd offshore wind project in the Little Belt strait after TotalEnergies withdrew, and is now seeking a new partner.

Danish utility Sonfor has taken majority ownership of the Lillebælt Syd offshore wind farm project, located in the Little Belt strait in Denmark, following TotalEnergies' withdrawal from the joint venture. The French group had announced its exit from the project earlier this summer 2026. Sonfor is now searching for a new partner to continue developing the 165 megawatt (MW) wind farm.

TotalEnergies withdraws from the project

According to Kjeld Stærk, Chairman of Sonfor's Board, quoted in a translation of remarks made in Danish, the company has "noted TotalEnergies' desire to focus on other projects in their global portfolio." He said the withdrawal does not change Sonfor's view that the Lillebælt Syd wind farm remains important, both in terms of security of supply and in a local context.

Danish developer European Energy will continue on as a minority shareholder in the project, Stærk also said. According to him, the project directly addresses agendas around security of supply and local development in the Sønderborg area, as Danish society undergoes rapid electrification and the local electricity grid is already strained by companies unable to meet their power needs.

Search for a new partner

Sonfor has launched a search for a partner to take the project forward alongside European Energy. Stærk said the project's relevance remains intact and that its possibilities should be "investigated thoroughly." The transaction confirming Sonfor's majority takeover still requires approval from a general meeting of shareholders, scheduled to take place on the day of the announcement.

A clarification process covering the identity of the future partner and the project's business basis will then be initiated, according to Sonfor. That process is expected to be completed by the end of June 2027 at the latest. The Lillebælt Syd wind farm, with a planned capacity of 165 MW, therefore remains in development pending a final agreement on its ownership structure.