EU Offshore Wind Power Capacity Up 50 Percent
In the first six months of 2012 132 new European offshore wind turbines – totalling 523.2 MW – connected to the grid, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). This is a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2011, when European turbines added 348.1 MW.
“Offshore wind power creates jobs in Europe, reduces our fuel import costs, and avoids the global and local health and environmental costs of extracting, transporting and burning fossil fuels,” said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive Officer of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) in Brussels. “Offshore wind power is increasingly attracting investors, including pension funds and other institutional and corporate investors, but it would be good to see more activity in southern Europe where jobs, investments and growth are desperately needed.”
2012 could turn out to be the best year ever for offshore wind energy in Europe, as a further 160 turbines, totalling 647.4 MW, are built but awaiting grid connection. This is subject to weather conditions at sea and grid connection delays. A total of 4,336 MW offshore wind capacity was operating as of 30 June 2012 – up from 3,294 MW in June 2011 – producing electricity for the equivalent of 4 million households.
During the first half of 2012 overall, 13 wind farms were under construction. Once completed these wind farms will account for an additional capacity of 3,762 MW.