Almost 5GW of offshore wind capacity was added in 2018 bringing the total to over 22GW, according to figures released by the World Forum Offshore Wind.
WFO said 2018 was a record year with 4988MW installed from January to the end of December.
Total offshore capacity at the end of the year stood at 22,045MW.
WFO has made all the data on the wind farms freely available on its website.
The organisation also released a mission statement – “500 by 50” – aiming to pave the way to develop 500GW by 2050 worldwide.
WFO said the mission statement is based on the latest projection by the International Renewable Energy Agency’s transformation roadmap, which states that the industry has the potential to reach 520GW by mid-century.
“Since 22GW are already installed, this leaves almost 500GW of offshore wind capacity which need to be developed, built and installed over the next three decades until 2050,” it said.
“WFO and its members are convinced that this steep offshore wind growth can only be achieved if the global offshore wind community across the whole value chain works together with governments and regulators around the world,” the forum said.
“In a collaborative, cross-industry and multilateral approach a clear growth path for offshore wind in markets around the world needs to be implemented.”