Europe is set to install a record capacity of offshore wind power this year, led by the United Kingdom, as the old continent seeks to boost energy supplies away from Russia.
And energy research company Rystad Energy expects, in a report issued yesterday , Thursday, that the added capacity of offshore wind energy in Europe will rise to 4.2 GW this year, more than doubling the installed capacity, last year, at 1.8 GW.
This would push Europe’s offshore wind capacity to surpass the previous record of 3.8 GW, set in 2019.
Offshore Wind Energy In Europe
In 2022, the UK alone is likely to contribute 3.2 GW of offshore wind capacity installed in Europe, an all-time high, beating the previous record of 2.1 GW in 2018.
The United Kingdom is scheduled to witness the operation of 3 offshore wind energy projects this year, led by the second phase of the Hornsey plant of the Danish company Orsted with a capacity of 1.4 GW, to become the largest offshore wind energy project in the world when fully operational, after the first phase with a capacity of 1.2 GW became operational. year 2019.
France is likely to be the second largest contributor of offshore wind capacity additions in Europe this year, with the completion of the first commercial project of 480 MW.
According to the report, Germany, Norway and Italy are expected to add 342, 88 and 30 megawatts, respectively, this year, in addition to other additions by Spain.
Bright Prospects
Total installed offshore wind capacity in Europe was 28.15 GW last year, representing more than half of total global capacity, according to the World Wind Council.
Last year, China accounted for 85% of offshore wind capacity additions around the world, over the past year, compared to 10% for Europe, but the old continent could return to the lead this year, according to Rystad Energy.
The growth of new additions in offshore wind capacity in Europe is expected to accelerate in the coming years, reaching 7.3 GW next year, before rising to 8.6 GW in 2025.
The UK is expected to continue to lead offshore wind capacity installations in Europe until 2025, with significant additions also from other countries such as Germany and France.
According to the report, France may add 3 gigawatts of new capacity for offshore wind between 2022 and 2025.
Denmark and Poland are expected to contribute between 1.5 and 1.4 GW of added offshore wind capacity in Europe by the middle of the decade, according to Rystad Energy.
Source: XglobalMarkets
