The operational capacity of floating offshore wind energy has reached 382 megawatts, marking a 38% increase over the past year. This report shows that despite the challenges in the offshore wind energy industry, including legal barriers and rising investment costs, this type of energy continues to grow.
Capacity Growth in Europe and Asia
According to the latest report, European countries are leading in this field. Norway has added 97 megawatts, France 87 megawatts, and the United Kingdom 78 megawatts to their capacity. In Asia, China is active with 72 megawatts and Japan with 22 megawatts in this area.
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Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 109 megawatts of new capacity has been activated in this sector, breaking the previous record of 108 megawatts set in 2023. Two specific projects in France and Japan have added 30 and 17 megawatts to the new capacities, respectively.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Offshore Wind Energy Industry
The offshore wind energy industry faces serious challenges. Particularly in the United States, where the previous government spent nearly $4 billion to buy back federal leases and halt large projects. However, efforts to develop offshore wind energy continue in other parts of the world.
Globally, about 300 floating offshore wind energy projects with a production capacity of 152 gigawatts are at various stages of development in 26 countries. Estimates indicate that by 2030, approximately 1.7 gigawatts of floating offshore wind energy will be added to the global grid, with China accounting for 66% and the United Kingdom for 16% of this capacity.
In the next decade, China, the United Kingdom, and South Korea will be recognized as major centers for the floating wind energy market. It is expected that the United Kingdom will account for about 85% of the total capacity in Europe in this field.
New markets are also emerging. For example, Greece has identified a capacity of 1.6 gigawatts for future leases and is considering an additional 8.8 gigawatts. Ireland and Chile are also emerging markets with 3.8 and 2.3 gigawatts of floating capacity in this field, respectively.
Tara Singh, CEO of RenewableUK, stated that the unprecedented increase in new floating wind energy projects worldwide presents many opportunities for the UK as a global leader in this innovative technology. She also emphasized that the offshore wind energy industry in the UK could support 97,000 jobs by 2050 and add $62 billion to the country's economy.
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