RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse Insights Floating Offshore Wind report shows that global floating wind capacity has increased by 13% over the past twelve months, reaching 277 MW, up from 245 MW a year earlier. The sector is projected to expand nearly tenfold to 2,500 MW by 2030.
Sixteen projects are now fully operational across seven countries. Norway leads with 100 MW across three projects, followed by the UK with 78 MW (two projects) and China with 40 MW (five projects). A further 93 MW is under construction globally, including two projects in France and two in China.
Overall, 221 GW of floating wind capacity is at various stages of development across 324 projects worldwide. By 2030, China and the UK are expected to account for 45% and 41% of global capacity respectively, while markets in France, Norway, and Japan are anticipated to grow in the following decade.
Italy holds the largest pipeline of planned projects, although most remain at early development stages with none yet operational or under construction. The UK has moved from third to second place globally, overtaking the USA, where many projects have stalled amid political uncertainty.
Europe continues to dominate the global floating wind market, accounting for 60% (134 GW) of announced capacity. The UK hosts 14% of the worldwide total (31 GW across 39 projects), with 84% located in Scottish waters (26 GW across 31 projects).
In the UK, five projects with a combined capacity of 458 MW are eligible to compete in the upcoming Allocation Round 7 for power generation contracts. The report notes that the current budget could support two or three new projects.
