wind
Offshore wind
Wind turbines installed in marine environments — typically larger, with higher capacity factors and higher cost than onshore wind.
Offshore wind installs turbines in marine environments (continental shelf or floating). Advantages: stronger and more consistent winds, larger turbine sizes feasible (15–22 MW in 2026 vs 4–7 MW onshore), no land-use constraints. Disadvantages: 2–3x higher installed cost, complex installation logistics, longer development timelines, transmission cabling costs. China leads operating capacity (~50 GW); UK, Germany, Netherlands lead in Europe; US offshore wind faced major setbacks 2023–2024 and is rebuilding.
Related terms
- Monopile — Single large-diameter steel cylinder driven into the seabed, the dominant offsho…
- Capacity factor — Ratio of actual energy generated over a period to the maximum possible at namepl…