Global floating wind pipeline reaches 54 gigawatts - with UK leading the world

Over half of this is in Europe (30.9GW), with the UK leading the world at 8.8GW. Ireland has 7.7GW in the pipeline, Sweden 6.2GW and Italy 3.7GW. Norway, Spain and France are also planning to deploy floating wind at scale.   

The world’s first floating wind farm, Hywind, has been operating in Scottish waters since 2017 and a second floating project, Kincardine, is almost fully operational. This week the Government announced a dedicated budget of £24 million to support floating projects in the next CfD auction which opens in December. A significant number of floating wind farms are expected to come forward as a result of the ongoing ScotWind leasing process by Crown Estate Scotland which has received over 70 applications overall to install up to 10GW of new fixed-foundation and floating wind capacity. The Crown Estate confirmed in July that 300MW of new floating projects have been given the green light to progress to the next stage of assessment in the Celtic Sea (between south west England, Wales and Ireland). 

The most important global players in floating wind outside Europe are Australia at 7.4GW, South Korea on 7.1GW and the USA which has a pipeline of 5.5GW. Taiwan has 1.5GW and Japan 1.3GW. China and Saudi Arabia are also planning projects.

The data shows a major global surge in floating wind deployment between 2025 and 2030:

Image: RenewableUK

The research has been compiled by RenewableUK’s Project Intelligence team and is being published on the first day of the trade association’s Floating Offshore Wind conference and exhibition in Aberdeen, which includes keynote speeches from senior members of the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

Speaking at the event this morning, Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in the Scottish Government, said: “Scotland’s huge deep water potential means we expect floating offshore wind will be vital in our transition to a net zero economy. Scotland is already leading the world in floating wind and we’ll do everything in our power to maintain our support and ensure we remain at the forefront of this innovative technology. The ongoing ScotWind leasing process has the potential to transform the energy sector in Scotland, including the transfer of oil and gas workers into renewables and into floating offshore wind in particular - we need to make the most of it”.    

Also addressing the conference, Julie James MS, the Wesh Government Minister for Climate Change, said: “The offshore renewable energy sector is an engine of growth for coastal communities. Floating offshore wind is at the centre of our thinking as the sector is entering an exciting stage of development. We’re working at pace to provide solutions for the rapid roll out of this technology in Wales”.