Europe’s new offshore wind capacity additions are hitting a record this year with the immense contribution from new plans in different countries. The UK is the largest commissioning country among all projects.
FREMONT, CA: Europe’s offshore wind capacity additions are witnessing an increase to 4.2 GW in 2022. It is the first time that Europe is going through this drastic topping from that which occurred in 2019 with an annual record of 3.8 GW. New capacity additions are anticipated to grow further by doubling again to 7.3 GW and 8.6 GW in 2023 and 2025 respectively. However, 2024 might observe a reduction in annual capacity additions due to project timing.
UK projects will be the primary entities for the high capacity additions that will add 3.2 GW of capacity, an increase from the 2.1 GW of annual capacity in 2018. This acceleration of capacity is the result of three large projects that are expected to take the stage in 2022. These three projects will be the most significant in Europe in the coming years.
Although the world's most advanced offshore wind area is in Europe, China is dominating with 85 per cent of all the global capacity additions in recent years while Europe only contributes 10 per cent. However, analysts observe that there will be a radical shift this year with the region ramping up its offshore wind capacity.
As stated earlier, the UK’s three large projects will be put into practice in 2022, which tops up as the largest project list in Europe for the year.
Across Europe
Followed by the UK, France will be the second largest contributor to capacity addition in Europe this year. The country is introducing its first commercial offshore wind project with the commissioning of a 48-MW unit. Norway’s Hywind Tampen floating project will be the largest floating offshore wind installation globally with a capacity of 88 MW. Italy will also be presenting its first offshore wind farm, the Taranto project, with 30 MW. Spain, with its floating demonstration projects, will be contributing capacity additions.
Further Expectations
Europe anticipates a significant increase in offshore wind capacity additions led by various countries. The UK will be the leading country to set up Europe’s capacity additions till 2025. However, other countries will play a pivotal role with their increasing contribution to the capacity additions. Following the UK, Germany and France will be boosting capacity additions. Along with them, the Dutch, Danish, and Poland’s offshore wind projects will make a larger contribution to Europe’s new capacity. It is anticipated that no new offshore wind projects will go online in the Netherlands and Denmark in 2022. With these record-breaking strategies, 2022 will set the stage for more capacity additions towards 2025.
