Offshore wind capacity 2023, by country

The total installed capacity of offshore wind turbines in operation in China amounted to around 31.5 gigawatts at the end of 2023. As of that time, the Asian country had an additional 6.3 gigawatts of offshore power under construction. In 2021, China overtook the United Kingdom as the world’s biggest offshore wind market. The UK is now the second-leading country in terms of offshore operating capacity. 

Offshore wind in the UK

The installed capacity of offshore wind turbines in the United Kingdom has grown enormously in the last decade. Between 2010 and 2022 it rose from 1.3 gigawatts to over 13.9 gigawatts, a 10-fold increase. The UK’s long coastline, along with its shallow waters and high wind speed, make it ideal for the installation of offshore wind turbines. The country is home to the largest wind farm installed worldwide, the Hornsea 2 project, which started commercial operation in 2022 and is located off the northeast coast of England in the North Sea. Currently under construction, the Dogger Bank offshore farm, also located off England’s northeast coast, will have a record capacity of 3.6 gigawatts when completed.

Floating offshore: an emerging market

Floating offshore technologies rely on floating structures instead of a fixed bottom, allowing the installation of turbines in deeper waters with high wind speed. In 2022, a total of 124 megawatts of floating offshore capacity was operating worldwide. Although the market is still in its infancy, forecasts point to a bright future. By 2030, the world is expected to reach a floating offshore capacity of almost 40 gigawatts, with The United Kingdom, Italy, and Sweden being the largest markets.