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Released February 13, 2018 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Offshore wind grew by 25% in Europe in 2017, bringing capacity to 15.8 gigawatts (GW).
A total of 3.1 GW was added by the completion of 13 new offshore windfarms, including the world's first floating offshore windfarm, Hywind Scotland. Europe now has more than 4,000 offshore wind turbines operating across 11 countries. Figures from industry body WindEurope showed that the U.K. and Germany accounted for most of them, installing 1.7 GW and 1.3 GW, respectively.
An additional 11 offshore windfarms are currently under construction, which will add another 2.9 GW of capacity. Projects in the pipeline will take offshore wind to 25 GW in the next two years. Although there are offshore windfarms in 11 countries, 98% of them are located in just five: U.K., Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Turbine sizes have also been on the increase since 2016, with new turbines averaging 5.9 MW, a 23% increase on those deployed in 2016. The average size of the new offshore windfarms came in at 493 MW, a 34% increase on 2016. There has also been an increase in capacity load factors, with projects like Dudgeon in the U.K. operating at 65% and the Anholt I project in Denmark hitting 54%.
"A 25% increase in one year is spectacular," commented Giles Dickson, WindEurope chief executive officer. "Offshore wind is now a mainstream part of the power system. And the costs have fallen rapidly. Investing in offshore wind today costs no more than in conventional power generation. It just shows Europe's ready to embrace a much higher renewables target for 2030. Thirty-five percent is easily achievable. Not least now that floating offshore wind farms are also coming on line."
In October, Industrial Info reported that first power had been generated at the world's floating offshore windfarm located in deep waters 25 kilometres (km) offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The 30-MW Hywind project, developed by Norway's oil and gas giant Statoil ASA (NYSE:STO), is capable of powering up to 20,000 homes, with the floating turbines located in water depths of 800 metres. For additional information, see October 23, 2017, article - First Floating Offshore Windfarm Powers Up in Scotland.
In December, Industrial Info reported that Portugal had green lit its first floating offshore windfarm. For additional information, see December 1, 2017, article - Portugal's First Floating Offshore Windfarm Gets Green Light.
Industrial Info is tracking the upsurge in floating offshore windfarm projects in Europe. There are five proposed and at various stages of construction:
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
A total of 3.1 GW was added by the completion of 13 new offshore windfarms, including the world's first floating offshore windfarm, Hywind Scotland. Europe now has more than 4,000 offshore wind turbines operating across 11 countries. Figures from industry body WindEurope showed that the U.K. and Germany accounted for most of them, installing 1.7 GW and 1.3 GW, respectively.
An additional 11 offshore windfarms are currently under construction, which will add another 2.9 GW of capacity. Projects in the pipeline will take offshore wind to 25 GW in the next two years. Although there are offshore windfarms in 11 countries, 98% of them are located in just five: U.K., Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Turbine sizes have also been on the increase since 2016, with new turbines averaging 5.9 MW, a 23% increase on those deployed in 2016. The average size of the new offshore windfarms came in at 493 MW, a 34% increase on 2016. There has also been an increase in capacity load factors, with projects like Dudgeon in the U.K. operating at 65% and the Anholt I project in Denmark hitting 54%.
"A 25% increase in one year is spectacular," commented Giles Dickson, WindEurope chief executive officer. "Offshore wind is now a mainstream part of the power system. And the costs have fallen rapidly. Investing in offshore wind today costs no more than in conventional power generation. It just shows Europe's ready to embrace a much higher renewables target for 2030. Thirty-five percent is easily achievable. Not least now that floating offshore wind farms are also coming on line."
In October, Industrial Info reported that first power had been generated at the world's floating offshore windfarm located in deep waters 25 kilometres (km) offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The 30-MW Hywind project, developed by Norway's oil and gas giant Statoil ASA (NYSE:STO), is capable of powering up to 20,000 homes, with the floating turbines located in water depths of 800 metres. For additional information, see October 23, 2017, article - First Floating Offshore Windfarm Powers Up in Scotland.
In December, Industrial Info reported that Portugal had green lit its first floating offshore windfarm. For additional information, see December 1, 2017, article - Portugal's First Floating Offshore Windfarm Gets Green Light.
Industrial Info is tracking the upsurge in floating offshore windfarm projects in Europe. There are five proposed and at various stages of construction:
- Hywind Scotland--30 MW--Scotland, 2017
- Kincardine--48 MW--Scotland, from 2018
- Dounreay Tri--2 x 5 MW--Scotland, 2018
- WindFloat Atlantic--30 MW--Portugal, 2018-2019
- Atlantis/Ideol project--100 MW--U.K., 2021
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
