UK’s total pipeline of offshore wind projects now stands at nearly 100 GW according to new research published by RenewableUK.
Data from the industry trade association’s EnergyPulse market intelligence showed a project pipeline of 97,944 MW, up from 91,287MW a year ago.
This adds to the global pipeline which topped 1.23 TW, an increase of nearly 400 GW in the last year. The pipeline includes operational projects as well as those under construction, consented or planned.
Commenting on the statistics, RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail, said: “These latest Energy Pulse figures show that both the UK and global offshore wind pipeline is continuing to grow at pace, with new projects coming forward on a massive scale.”
By the end of 2020, the UK was leading the world in operational offshore wind capacity, with 10.4 GW compared to the 7.7 GW of China. 2021 saw China not only surpassing the UK but reaching more than double its capacity, with 16.9 GW going operational in a single year. After installing 5 GW since the end of 2021, China currently accounts for nearly 50% of global operational capacity.
“While the UK has established itself as a global leader in both fixed-bottom and floating wind, we cannot afford to be complacent. More and more countries are fleshing out their offshore ambitions, with clear plans for future developments and industrial strategies to accompany them,” said McGrail.
He added that recent developments such as the Inflation Reduction Act in the US and the EU’s Green Industrial Deal have increased competition for investment and that the UK must double down on its efforts to support and accelerate offshore wind development and incentivise manufacturing investment into “that might otherwise go overseas”.
