Written by David McPhee
The UK led Europe in offshore wind construction in 2018, according to new data.
Offshore renewable industry advocates WindEurope, released new figures this
week showing the UK accounted for 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of newly installed
capacity.
The data states also that the UK and Germany together accounted for 85% of
the total number of new projects.
Last year also saw the world’s largest wind farm with the completion of the
657 MW Walney 3 Extension.
A clutch of other huge projects are also currently in construction in the
UK such as the 1 GW Hornsea project and the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm, one
of the largest projects in Scottish infrastructure history, due for
completion this year.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “Offshore wind continues to
grow strongly in Europe. The total capacity expanded by a further 18% last
year. Offshore wind now represents 2% of all the electricity consumed in
Europe. And with a big pipeline of projects under construction and
development, this number will rise significantly.
“The technology keeps developing. The turbines keep getting bigger. And the
costs keep falling. It’s now no more expensive to build offshore wind than
it is to build coal or gas plants. And it’s a good deal cheaper than new
nuclear.
“More and more governments are recognising the merits of offshore wind.
Poland is the latest to embrace it with an ambitious plan to build 10 GW by
2040. But a few countries are underperforming on it and risk missing out.
Sweden is not building any offshore wind despite great potential. Germany
has only a modest target for 2030. And the ‘gamma minus’ performer is
France which still has no offshore wind farms nor is it clear when they
will have.
“These countries have a chance to put things right this year with their
National Energy and Climate Plans – they should grab it with two hands.”
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