132 new offshore wind turbines, representing a capacity of 523.2 megawatts (MW) were connected to the grid in Europe in the first half of this year, a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2011.
According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), 2012 will be a bumper year for offshore wind power in Europe as an additional 160 turbines, totalling 647.4 MW, have already been constructed and are awaiting connection to the grid.
By the end of June, a total of 4,336 MW offshore wind capacity was operational; supplying clean electricity for the equivalent of 4 million European households. In June 2011, 3,294 MW of offshore wind power was in place.
During the first half of 2012, 13 wind farms were under construction. Once completed, these wind farms will account for an additional capacity of 3,762 MW.
The UK was far and away the leader in terms of new farms under construction during the first half of this year, with 8 projects.
The average size of wind turbines installed and connected to the grid reached 4 MW capacity during the first 6 months of 2012, increasing by 14.2% compared to the same period in 2011.
In terms of investment activity and in spite of continuing challenging economic conditions, as many transactions were closed in the past six months as were closed during the whole of 2011.
“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,” said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive Officer of the EWEA in Brussels.
Established in 1982, the EWEA is the world’s largest and most influential wind energy network, with over 700 members in 60 countries.
