World adds 6.1 GW of offshore wind in 2019

The world’s total offshore wind capacity reached 29 GW in 2019 following a record 6.1 GW of new annual installations, according to a new report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

The fresh additions last year represent a 35.5% jump on the figure reported for 2018, when a total of 4.5 GW were installed. China was the leader with close to 2.4 GW.

More details are available in the table below.

Europe accounted for 59% of all new additions in 2019, with the Asia-Pacific region representing the rest.

“While 2019 offshore wind installations were driven by established market leaders, over the next few years we will see more and more countries establish their offshore industry, expanding into new markets in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific,” commented Alastair Dutton, chair of GWEC’s Global Offshore Wind Task Force. He added that these emerging markets will require the right policy frameworks so that the world could pursue a wider build-out of capacity post-2030.

The member-based industry organisation expects the world to install a further 50 GW of offshore wind parks by 2024 and approach a cumulative capacity of 80 GW. That would be a surge of 172% from today’s figure.

GWEC will release its full Global Wind Report on March 25, 2020.

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