Global Offshore Wind Capacity: 85 GW Achieved, 100 GW Targeted by 2026

With an annual increase of 14%, global offshore wind capacity now reaches 85.2 gigawatts, driven mainly by China, the United Kingdom, and Germany, while another 27.3 gigawatts are currently under construction.

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The global installed offshore wind capacity has reached 85.2 gigawatts (GW), according to the recent RenewableUK report, EnergyPulse Insights Offshore Wind. This marks an annual increase of 14%, up from 74.7 GW previously. The sector continues to grow steadily, supported by sustained investments in Asia and Europe. Among operational capacities, China now holds a dominant position with 42.9 GW installed, representing over half of the global total.

China Leads, Europe Accelerates

Following China, the United Kingdom has an operational capacity of 15.6 GW, with Germany coming next at 9 GW. The Netherlands (5.4 GW), Taiwan (3 GW), and Denmark (2.7 GW) complete the group of major players in the offshore wind sector. Additionally, the United Kingdom is preparing for a new phase of auctions (Allocation Round 7) aimed at adding up to 16.3 GW of additional offshore capacity by 2030, primarily using Contracts for Difference (CfD).

Meanwhile, Germany continues key projects in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, while the Netherlands is advancing major initiatives such as Hollandse Kust West, aimed at strengthening its offshore grid. In Asia, Taiwan maintains a steady pace, currently developing additional capacities to reach approximately 5.5 GW by 2025.

United States and Emerging New Markets

In the United States, developments are mainly focused on the East Coast, with several prominent projects such as Vineyard Wind (800 MW) off Massachusetts and Ocean Wind (1.1 GW) in New Jersey. The U.S. government aims for a total installed capacity of nearly 30 GW by the end of the decade, necessitating massive investments and significant development of the local supply chain.

Emerging markets such as Indonesia, Chile, and Malta have also recently joined the group of active countries in offshore wind, attracted by the economic opportunities this technology offers. These new entrants primarily seek to diversify their energy mix and strengthen energy independence, leveraging international technological and commercial partnerships.

Floating Wind as a Future Growth Driver

Additionally, floating offshore wind is gaining visibility. RenewableUK forecasts that this technology will account for around 2.5 GW of global capacity by 2030. Among flagship projects is Hywind Tampen in Norway, set to become the world’s largest floating wind installation with a planned capacity of 88 MW. Other significant initiatives are anticipated off California and Scotland, including projects such as California Floating Wind and ScotWind.

Amid this momentum, the global industry faces significant challenges related to rising construction costs, limited availability of key components, and logistical delays, factors potentially affecting timelines for commissioning the most ambitious projects. These structural issues must be managed to enable the sector to reach the symbolic threshold of 100 GW operational by mid-2026, in line with current forecasts.

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The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, with a capacity of 450 megawatts, comes online off the coast of Scotland, mobilising GBP200 mn ($259 mn) in public and private investment for the region.
DP Energy plans to build a 1,400 MW wind farm near Julia Creek, supported by an energy storage system, enhancing industrial momentum and supply prospects in northern Queensland.
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Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation No. 3 (SEPCO3) has signed an EPC contract for the construction of the 700 MW Yanbu wind energy project under Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program.
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RWE has inaugurated the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy, a 53.1 MW facility capable of powering 55,000 Italian households. This project marks a key milestone in the development of renewable energy in Italy.
Swiss company Wysenergy has secured public funding for its first wind project in France, located in the municipality of Faux-Fresnay and selected under the PPE2 tender scheme.
Energy supplier OVO plans to invest several hundred million pounds in the renovation of British wind farms, aiming to increase national capacity and accelerate the country’s energy transition.
Danish group Cadeler has taken early delivery of the Wind Keeper, its eighth vessel, now tied to a three-year contract with Vestas worth a firm EUR210m ($228m), including additional options.
bp has announced the sale of its US onshore wind operations to LS Power, strengthening the American group’s 21GW portfolio and continuing its global asset divestment strategy.
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German group RWE has completed installation of all 100 monopile foundations at Sofia, a 1.4 GW offshore wind farm located 195 kilometres from the British coast, marking a major step in the construction of the project.
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Nomura Real Estate has signed a power purchase agreement for its new Tokyo headquarters with wpd and GPSS Group, supplying the Higashi Izu Furusato wind project with a capacity of 7.48 MW.
Energiequelle completes the commissioning of two Enercon E-160 turbines in Raßlitz, replacing previous models and increasing the installed capacity of the Saxony site more than fivefold.