The total pipeline of global offshore wind projects has grown by 47 per cent since January, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, new research published by RenewableUK shows.
RenewableUK’s latest Offshore Wind Project Intelligence report reveals that the total capacity of offshore wind projects worldwide which are operational, under construction, consented, in planning, or in development currently stands at 197.4 GW, up from 134.7 GW in mid-January. Just over half of the pipeline, 99.6 GW or 50.5 per cent, is in Europe.
The UK retains its top spot with a total pipeline of 41.3 GW, up 12 per cent since January when it stood at 36.9 GW.
China has leapt from fourth place into second with an 80 per cent increase from 14.5 GW to 26.1GW.
The USA retains third place with 10 per cent growth from 16.2 GW to 17.8 GW.
Brazil has emerged from nowhere to go straight into fourth place with 16.3 GW. The South American country’s ten offshore wind projects have all been announced since the start of the year, RenewableUK said.
Taiwan stays at number five with a 65 per cent increase from 9.2 GW to 15.2 GW.
Germany has dropped from second to sixth place due to a 29 per cent decrease in its pipeline from 16.5 GW in January to 11.7 GW in October. The Netherland is in seventh position with a 58 per cent increase from 7.2 GW to 11.4 GW. In eighth place, Ireland’s pipeline expanded by 44 per cent from 6.3 GW to 9.1 GW. Poland is in ninth position with 72 per cent growth this year from 5.3 GW to 9.1 GW.
Vietnam was outside the top ten at the start of the year but is now in tenth place with 8.6 GW.
“The global appetite to develop new offshore wind projects remains enormous, despite the pandemic this year, as this research proves. The UK and many other countries are counting on the rapid growth of the offshore wind sector to be a key driver in the worldwide green economic recovery,” RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Melanie Onn said.
“The UK remains the biggest market for offshore wind in the world and our capacity is set to quadruple over the course of this decade following the Prime Minister’s landmark commitment to power every UK home with offshore wind by 2030. As well as providing clean, low-cost power, our industry will continue to revitalise coastal communities, grow the UK supply chain and export our offshore wind goods and services around the world, as our unrivalled expertise is now in huge demand globally.”