This week the UK overtook Denmark to become the biggest offshore wind energy generator in the world.
Electricity generator Centrica completed construction of a new offshore wind farm near Skegness this week and increased the number of offshore wind farms in UK waters to a total of 9. The wind farms comprise around 300 turbines with a total installed capacity of 598 megawatts.
With the giant 271 wind turbine Thames London Array project securing investment from Abu Dhabi this week after the shock withdrawal of Shell in the summer, the future looks bright for offshore wind.
The current financial situation, together with soaring steel prices will, I am sure continue to cause much uncertainty for offshore wind energy in the short term future and a government financial incentive that ends halfway through a wind farm’s life does not help investor confidence. It may well be that Denmark takes back the lead at some point in the short term future, however it is clear to most in the renewable energy industry that the UK’s appetite for offshore wind looks insatiable.
