The global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects has expanded in the last 12 months from 285 to 316, which equates to an increase of 244GW to 266GW, or 9%, according to the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce.
Its new report – Floating Wind: Anchoring the next generation offshore – ranks the UK as second-best in the world for fully operational floating offshore wind projects.
Of the 15 fully operational projects, Norway is in the top position with 94MW (three projects) and the UK in second with 78MW (two projects), followed by China with 40MW (five projects), Portugal with 25MW (one project) and Japan with 5MW (two projects).
The report finds that, globally, 102MW are under construction (four projects), 7.3GW are consented or in the pre-construction phase (22 projects), 21.6GW are in the planning system (15 projects) and 184GW are in early development or applying for a lease.
Although Italy has the largest pipeline, with 16% of the global total (41.3GW), most of these projects are at an early stage of development.
Of the global offshore floating wind pipeline, 62% (165GW) is being planned for European waters. The UK makes up 12% (33.1GW) of this pipeline, three-quarters of which (24.8GW) is in Scottish waters.
Dan McGrail, chief executive of RenewableUK and co-chair of the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce, said: “It’s great to see the UK maintaining its position as a world leader in floating wind, but in an increasingly competitive global market the industry will now have to work even harder with the government to ensure that we ramp up the amount of floating capacity we secure in each annual auction from now on to maintain our advantage.
“This will enable us to build up a world-class supply chain and achieve the economies of scale we need to drive down costs as fast as possible.”
The report also finds that the UK’s floating wind industry could employ as many as 97,000 people by 2050, contributing £47bn to the UK economy.
By 2050, the UK floating turbine sector could provide a third of the country’s offshore wind capacity, with 40GW fully operational.
It also shows that the cost of building floating projects could fall by 30% by 2030 to under £100 per MWh.
However, the report warns that the UK must focus on expanding its supply chain, with the ability for floating turbines to be manufactured and assembled on quaysides around the UK, which is currently lacking. With strong competition from European suppliers, the UK could miss out on the full economic potential of floating wind.
McGrail said: “As this report shows, floating wind is set to become one of the biggest global industries of the 21st century, and the UK now has an unprecedented opportunity to seize the lead by scaling up this innovative technology.
Susie Lind, industry vice-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council and managing director at BlueFloat Energy Nadara Partnership, said: “By enacting the measures set out in this report, the UK can secure its position as a leader in the global race to develop this transformational technology at scale and export it worldwide.
“This would create tens of thousands of new jobs, attract billions in private investment and strengthen our energy security by harnessing the power of our exceptionally strong wind resources in deeper waters further offshore”.
