A new report published on 8 October by RenewableUK indicates that the global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects has expanded in the last 12 months from 244 GW to 266 GW – an increase of 9%.
The number of projects has increased during that time from 285 to 316. The pipeline estimate includes projects at any stage: fully operational, under construction, approved, in the planning system or at an early stage of development.
So far, 245 MW of floating wind are fully operational across 15 projects in 7 countries. Norway has the most with 94 MW across 3 projects, the UK is second with 78 MW (2 projects), followed by China with 40 MW (5 projects). Then Portugal with 25 MW (1 project) and Japan with 5 MW (2 projects).
Globally, 102 MW is under construction at 4 projects, 7.3 GW is consented or in the pre-construction phase (22 projects), 21.6 GW is in the planning system (15 projects) and 184 GW is in early development or applying for a lease.
Although Italy has the largest pipeline with 16% of the global total (41.3 GW), most of these projects are at an early stage of development. The same applies to the USA which is second with 13% (35.3 GW). The UK is third with 12% (33.1 GW), followed by Spain at 9% (24.7 GW) and Sweden on 7% (18.2 GW).
62% (165GW) of floating wind capacity announced so far worldwide is being developed in European waters, while 12%(33.1 GW) of the global portfolio is in UK waters, three-quarters of it (24.8GW), in Scottish waters.
