Advantages of Floating Offshore Wind

Untapped natural resource

Europe has an 80% share of offshore wind resource in depths deeper than 60 metres (*sources: MOFA and Carbon Trust)

Energy security

Developing home grown green energy means that we can increase our own energy supplies and reduce our reliance on global energy sources, helping to stabilise prices and reduce costs.

An enabler of net zero

Floating wind will be critical to meeting the UK and Wales’ net zero emission targets and ambitions set by the UK’s Committee on Climate Change.

Reduced visual impact

With the wind farms being further offshore, the visual impact on local shoreside communities is significantly reduced.

Economic and social benefits for local communities 

Estimations by the ORE Catapult state that the first GW of floating wind in the Celtic Sea could potentially deliver over 3,000 jobs and £682m in supply chain opportunities for Wales and the South West by 2030.  Potential for 17,000 UK jobs generating £33.6 billion for the UK economy by 2050.

Technology

Offshore wind farms have been built in UK waters since the early 2000s, using traditional ‘bottom-fixed’ designs, where the turbines are placed directly on the seabed.

Combining two technologies that have been proven throughout the world, offshore oil and gas platform technology and wind turbines, floating wind is set to become a key technology in reaching Net Zero. With over 75% of the world’s wind resource in water deeper than 60 metres, floating wind will also provide new low carbon supply chain opportunities, support coastal communities and create long term benefits for the region.