Bloomberg forecasts that out of the largest collection of offshore wind farms, planned by the European Union to be placed in the North and Baltic Seas, 3,400 wind turbines will be operational by 2015 and 3,600 more by 2020, subject to stability of the government´s support.
The offshore wind industry is struggling how to expand the capacity from current 3.5 GWs, which supplies 3 million homes with electricity.
Plans announced by the UK government in May to rearrange the electricity market have led the developers to think about what they can earn in the following decades, bearing in mind the unclear framework.
Consequently, Vestas cancelled its plans to build one of the biggest offshore turbine factories in England, which could have created 2,000 working positions.
The only unconditional order Vestas has got this year is the one for the offshore wind farm in Belgium, while Siemens got its last wind turbine order in December 2011.
Although the UK and Germany have reserved wind turbines for their projects through 2015, they involve certain conditions. Unconditional orders are made in a way that the prepayment is received, so the developers are sure the financial means are secured.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND Staff, July 17, 2012; Image: Vestas