Trends of Europe’s offshore wind in 2011

Comprising mainly statistical graphs and pie charts, the report gives an interesting insight into comparative progress of the industry, along with trends surrounding specific details of project construction and site conditions.

Of 246 turbines erected during 2011 (an average of 2.6MW per day), 235 at nine wind farms were fully grid connected, producing 866MW, 17MW less than 2010. The total value of these is put at €2.4bn. The continuing march of progress is reflected in work beginning offshore on a further five projects, and preparatory onshore work now underway on another nine new projects. Three experimental floating concepts were erected during 2011, one of which a full-scale grid connected concept.

Cumulatively, at the end of 2011, the European offshore wind scene consisted of 1,371 grid connected turbines, totalling 3.81GW at 53 windfarms in ten countries. This compared with 1,136 turbines totalling 2.94GW at 45 windfarms, in nine countries at the end of 2010. Installed capacity at the nine projects currently under construction will see the overall figure increase by 2.3GW once they are completed, resulting in a cumulative European capacity of 6.18GW. The nine projects currently at the preparatory stage will see this final figure increase by 2.91GW.

The report reveals 75% (cumulative) of the substructure foundations are monopiles, 21% are gravity based, with the remaining 4% divided equally between jacket and tripile designs. The year saw an increase in the size of the average windfarm at 200MW, up 29% on 2010. Average water depth in 2011 was 22.8m, described as ‘substantially more than last year’. While the average distance from shore decreased from 27.1km in 2010, to 23.4km in 2011, the average distance of windfarms under construction stands at 33.2km.

Financing of offshore windfarms is currently an important consideration, and in 2011 non-recourse financing increased by 40% on the previous year from €1.46bn to €2.05bn, with three transactions (Meerwind, Globaltech I and Baltic 1) closing in 2011. Over the past two and a half years, 41 turbine manufacturers have announced 51 new models, 23 of which were announced in 2011.

The report also reviews offshore grid developments and 2011 saw the BritNed connector between UK and the Netherlands completed on time and within budget, with the East-West link between Ireland and Britain also on track. The NorGer and NordLink cables connecting Norway with continental Europe have been delayed and a final investment decision is awaited on the Cobra cable between Denmark and the Netherlands. The European Commission is proposing €9.1bn to accelerate planning and finance for new energy infrastructure.

By Peter Barker