UK Sails Ahead with Offshore Wind Power

The UK, Denmark and Germany are leading the clean energy transformation in Europe. Since 1990, the UK has reduced its CO₂ emissions by 25 percent, while other wealthy countries such as the US and Norway have increased their emissions of greenhouse gases.

World's biggest fleet of offshore wind turbines

One of the reasons for the UK’s leading role in the clean energy transformation lies off of its coasts, where enormous offshore wind farms convert high-speed ocean winds into sustainable energy. And the development of offshore wind power has only just begun.

Nearly one out of every five British pounds spent on the UK's infrastructure goes to renewable energy, led by offshore wind power. The UK has more than 10GW of offshore wind power in operation, under construction or in planning. With all the projects in operation in 2020, 10 percent of the electricity supplied to UK power outlets will come from clean offshore wind power.

British adventure with Danish key player

The Danish company DONG Energy, the world leader in offshore wind power, is playing a central role in the UK’s wind adventure. DONG Energy has 2.2GW in operation and four new offshore wind farms under construction in UK waters. When these wind farms have been built, DONG Energy will be responsible for almost 5GW of offshore wind power in the UK. This is half of the UK’s offshore wind power – and enough clean electricity to supply four million households with sustainable energy.

Brent Cheshire, Chairman of DONG Energy UK, says: "DONG Energy's decision to invest in the development of the four new offshore wind farms clearly shows that we see the UK as one of our most important markets."

One of DONG Energy's planned wind farms is Hornsea Project One, which will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world once completed in 2017. This wind farm alone will be the size of Malta and provide enough power for one million UK homes – and more wind farms are yet to come in the same area. If the Hornsea project’s remaining three phases are completed, offshore wind farms will cover an area twice the size of Greater London.

DONG Energy is building the world's largest offshore wind farm in British waters. Image Credit: DONG Energy

The wind is stronger offshore

Offshore wind turbines are more expensive to build than onshore wind turbines. However, offshore wind power has a number of advantages - it is smoother and on average 40 percent more powerful than onshore wind, which means offshore wind turbines generate far more electricity.

The British government has a goal of reducing the cost of energy from offshore wind power. If DONG Energy has its way, ‘green’ energy will become cheaper than ‘black’ energy from fossil fuels. When that happens, renewable energies will be the natural choice, and the transformation of our global energy sector will accelerate even more. So DONG Energy is doing its part to ensure that clean, offshore wind power will soon be cheaper than black energy.