analysis
Crown Estate predicts strong growth in UK
After a period of considerable uncertainty, reports published in mid- 2014 suggest the UK offshore wind sector has a healthy future ahead of it
THE Crown Estate recently published two reports that paint a very positive picture of the UK offshore wind industry and conclude that it looks set to double its capacity to 10 gigawatts (GW) or more by 2020, amounting to 10 per cent of the country’s entire electricity demand. So, what are the main findings of the reports? And how have the reports been received by the UK offshore sector? The first of the two reports, which
were both launched at this year’s Global Offshore Wind 2014 conference, is the Offshore wind operational report 2014,
which shines a spotlight on the UK sector’s continuing growth trajectory. The report reveals that, in 2013, the UK generated an ‘unprecedented’ 11.5 terawatt hours (TWh) worth of energy, which equates to some 3.3 per cent of the total UK electricity demand – or enough to power 2.7 million homes. Moreover, the report states that, on a single day – 23 February 2014 – offshore and onshore wind power combined accounted for 17 per cent of electricity demand on that day and 11 per cent across the entire month.
Over 2013, the country’s windfarms
also attained a 37.7 per cent capacity factor, when counting only the output from those windfarms that were fully operational at the start of 2013 – an achievement that The Crown Estate describes as the highest portfolio average ever achieved. Another striking figure, which further demonstrates the sector’s rapid expansion, is the fact that, between 2010 and 2013, the total number of people employed in the UK offshore wind sector more than doubled to just over 6,800. “Offshore wind generation has seen
year-on-year growth of 53 per cent, consistent with the average annual growth of 55 per cent over the past 10 years,” said The Crown Estate. Interestingly, the report also confirms that four large windfarms – London Array, Greater Gabbard, Sheringham Shoal and Thanet – between them accounted for half of all
On a single day, offshore and onshore wind power combined accounted for 17 per cent of demand and 11 per cent across the entire month
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