Why Offshore Wind Farms Are Booming

(Image source: Wikimedia)

There are various advantages to wind farming as an energy source. Converting between 45-50% of the wind passing through the blades into electricity, it’s one of the most effective and efficient renewable energy solutions of today.

Wind energy doesn’t generate toxic emissions like fossil fuels and it provides our planet with a clean source of power. And today, the industry is booming, with forecasts revealing that the market will reach a net worth of $250 billion by 2020.

Here we look at some of the reasons why the industry is growing at such a rate.

China Leads the Way with Wind Energy

China has by far the world’s biggest wind energy sector, making up over 30% of the globe’s wind efforts. The country’s huge land mass and long coastline has made it the perfect country to farm wind, and with 45% of all new capacity installed in 2014, the rest of the world has been able to witness the quick success of China’s wind farming industry.

The scale and pace of growth in this clean energy sector has not been matched by any other country according to the Global Wind Energy Council, and the rest of the world are now following suit.

Offshore Wind Thrives in Europe & UK

Reports by Environment 360 reveal that falling costs has caused offshore wind farms to thrive in Europe. And the European Union’s push away from fossil fuels toward renewables has bolstered offshore wind farming. With more and more turbines being erected all the way from Ireland to the Baltic Seas.

Europe’s key trend is going offshore. As turbines get bigger and more sophisticated, we move further out to sea. This infographic as shared by RS Online details exactly why / how offshore wind farms are booming in this part of the world:

(Image source: RS Online)

The UK in particular is a great place for wind energy. Not only in Europe, but it’s also considered to be one of the best geographical locations in the world. In 2016, the UK generated more electricity from wind power than from coal. Today, the wind farms are getting better and there have been major advancements in turbine technology and engineering to make the industry even more efficient in generating clean energy for home and businesses.

Global Takeover for Offshore Wind Farms

There is no denying that offshore wind is the next big thing in the world of renewables. Ocean based wind plants are non-disruptive to open land and existing communities and they harness the elements of our natural climate, with an efficient turnover of electricity generation.

Currently, the UK has more offshore wind farms than anywhere else in the world and this success is set to go global, according to experts.

The falling costs have contributed to the booming industry and as wind farms multiple across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, the industry will gain from even more expertise and knowledge.

Together with the development of A.I and robotics in engineering, the future for offshore wind farming looks incredibly positive – and the market will continue to flourish.