Offshore Wind

Worldwide

A total of 10 offshore projects are currently operational worldwide: the early projects were relatively small scale and shallow or sheltered waters. Not until Blyth Offshore came online, exposed as it is to the full force of the North Sea, could any be described as truly offshore. The newly-completed Horns Rev is the largest offshore project in the world.

 

Location Country Online MW No Rating
Vindeby Denmark 1991 4.95 11 Bonus 450kW
Lely (Ijsselmeer) Holland 1994 2.0 4 NedWind 500kW
Tunø Knob Denmark 1995 5.0 10 Vestas 500kW
Dronten (Ijsselmeer) Holland 1996 11.4 19 Nordtank 600kW
Gotland (Bockstigen) Sweden 1997 2.5 5 Wind World 500kW
Blyth Offshore UK 2000 3.8 2 Vestas 2MW
Middelgrunden, Copenhagen Denmark 2001 40 20 Bonus 2MW
Uttgrunden, Kalmar Sound Sweden 2001 10.5 7 GE Wind 1.5MW
Yttre Stengrund Sweden 2001 10 5 NEG Micon NM72
Horns Rev Denmark 2002 160 80 Vestas 2MW
Frederikshaven Denmark 2003 10.6 4 2 Vestas 3MW,1 Bonus 2.3MW
and 1 Nordex 2.3MW
Samsø Denmark 2003 23 10 Bonus 2.3 MW
North Hoyle UK 2003 60 30 Vestas 2MW
Nysted Denmark 2004 158 72 Bonus 2.3MW
Arklow Bank Ireland 2004 25.2 7 GE 3.6 MW
Scroby Sands UK 2004 60 30 Vestas 2 MW
Totals     587 316  

Many other countries are also expressing serious intent in developing their offshore resource. Proposed projects include:

  • Horns Rev II, Denmark, 200 MW + similar project, location to be decided.
  • Mouth of the Western Scheldt River, Holland, 100 MW
  • Ijmuiden, Holland, 100 MW
  • Lillgrund Bank, Sweden, 48 MW
  • Uttgrunden II, Sweden, 72 MW
  • Barsebank, Sweden, 750 MW
  • Kish Bank, Ireland 250 MW+
  • Cape Wind, USA, 420 MW
  • Long Island, USA, 140 MW
  • Arklow II, Ireland, 500 MW
  • Cape Trafalgar, Spain, 500 MW
  • Thornton Bank, Belgium, 200 MW

There are also large projects in various stages of development in German Waters. Total planned projects are in excess of 30 GW. France also has 500 MW under consideration.

Utilising megawatt-plus class machines, these projects will generate higher volumes of electricity from the more constant wind regimes experienced at sea and are likely to play a major role in power generation in the future.

The EWEA have estimated that 5GW of the 60GW predicted for 2010 will be coming from the offshore sector.