Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Philippines and US could spearhead the next wave of floating wind development, according to a new report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
The report, ‘Floating Offshore Wind – a Global Opportunity’, sets out the enormous role floating offshore wind could have in the world’s drive, over the next decade, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels such as gas, coal and oil.
The report said the five countries all have significant floating wind potential.
These countries are termed the ‘chasing pack’, and together with the most mature floating markets – UK, South Korea, France and Japan – could spearhead the next wave of floating wind, GWEC argued.
Ireland’s highly ambitious government plans, coupled with favourable site conditions make for an attractive floating offshore wind market, provided that the transmission grid and port infrastructure is upgraded, the report said.
In Italy, a commitment to net zero is driving the growth of wind power, and a lack of space on land and the absence of sites suitable for fixed-bottom wind will drive a focus on floating offshore wind.
Morocco is looking at floating wind amid a great wind resource, a lack of access to fixed offshore wind, coupled with the government’s desire to meet green goals and increase energy security.
In the Philippines, high economic growth is driving increased electricity demand.
Floating offshore wind sites with good resources are located close to load centres and the government has an ambitious agenda. However, tariffs and infrastructure could pose challenges.
While in the Pacific coast of the US, lack of access to fixed offshore wind sites, coupled with high ambition from the state and federal governments all point to rapid growth of floating offshore wind.
However, major grid investment will be required to support connection.
With the global race to develop this technology already underway, these countries can catch up to the current market leaders, if they put in place the right policy now, GWEC said.
The report, from research and analytics company Aegir Insights, also highlights the role of political leadership in kick-starting floating offshore wind markets.
GWEC floating offshore wind task force chair Henrik Stiesdal said: “Having proven the technology, we need to accelerate delivery, and this means working with countries new to offshore wind.
“Floating offshore wind can bring low carbon electricity and economic opportunities.”
GWEC chief executive Ben Backwell said: “Offshore wind is a vital tool in global action to decarbonise. While the focus of this decade is rapid growth of fixed offshore wind, we also need to see political leadership so that large scale floating offshore wind is ready to play its part in the 2030s and beyond.”
Aegir Insights managing director Scott Urquhart said: “The five countries profiled have a combined floating offshore wind technical potential of 3861GW, equivalent to between 2.6 times – for Italy – and an astonishing 69 times – for Ireland – their current electricity demand.”