In
the first six months of 2015, the European offshore wind industry
installed more new capacity than in any other year on record as
several projects reached completion and deployment of larger turbines
increased.
Installations
in the first half of 2015 touched 2,342.9MW - tripling the
grid-connected capacity for the same period last year. As a result,
total installed offshore wind capacity in Europe hit 10,393.6MW in 82
wind farms across 11 countries.
Kristian
Ruby, Chief Policy Officer at the European Wind Energy Association,
said: "It has taken the offshore wind industry just six months
to set the best year the sector has ever seen in terms of installed
capacity. While this clearly shows a commitment to offshore wind
development in Europe, a number of completed projects, explosive
growth in Germany and the use of higher capacity wind turbines are
major contributors to these numbers."
With
584 wind turbines fully grid connected in the first half of 2015, the
average machine size rose to 4.2MW from 3.5MW a year earlier as
manufacturers continue to develop larger models with higher energy
capture.
Ruby
added: "To ensure healthy growth in the coming years, and to
guarantee offshore wind energy plays its role in meeting the EU's
competitiveness, security and decarbonisation objectives, the
industry needs long-term visibility. Strong reforms to the operation
of Europe's electricity market and much-needed upgrades to
infrastructure to help the integration of wind energy must be a
priority. It is also critical that Member States meet renewable
energy commitments toward the end of this decade and set out a clear
game plan to meet Europe's 2030 targets."
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