Offshore wind keeps on expanding in Europe

In the first six months of 2010, the installed capacity is higher and many more plants are being built compared to the same period of 2009. This industry is extremely healthy, although its growth could be hindered by the financial downturn

In the first six months of 2010, 118 new offshore turbines were grid-connected within the European Union. This finding results from the updated statistics published by the  EWEA (European Wind Energy Association), which emphasized that the additional 333 MW from these turbines amount to well over half of the total offshore capacity installed in 2009, which was 577 MW. The latter confirms that the offshore market within the European Union is consolidated, despite the serious financial downturn whose effects are still visible in 2010.

Moreover, another 151 turbines (440 MW) have been installed offshore in the first six months of 2010, though they must still be grid-connected.

As for plants that are under construction, at the beginning of this year the latter amounted to 16 for a total of 3,972 MW. In the meantime, four of these were put into service: the Poseidon facility in Denmark, Alpha Ventus in Germany and both Gunfleet Sands and Robin Rigg in the United Kingdom.

Overall, Europe has put into service 948 offshore turbines in 43 plants, with a total capacity of 2,396 MW.

EWEA notes that, although this sector still appears to be growing, its expansion is partly hindered by the reduced funding. Indeed, there are significantly less independent developers, so that an essential role is played by loans from public agencies, such as those granted by the European Investment Bank.

(July 2010)