The EWEA said that offshore wind installations currently account for no more than 0.3% of Europe’s electricity demand.
By 2030, there would be a total installed capacity of 150GW of offshore wind power producing over 550 TWh of electricity, meeting 13-17% of EU’s electricity demand and avoiding 290Mt of CO2 annually.
Over 100GW of offshore wind projects are already in various stages of planning. If realised, these projects would produce 10% of the EU’s electricity whilst avoiding 200Mt of CO2 emissions each year, the EWEA said.
The EWEA has a target of 40GW of offshore wind in the EU by 2020, indicating an average annual market growth of 28% over the coming 12 years. The EU market for onshore wind grew by an average 32% per year in the 12-year period from 1992-2004.
The association believes that strong and sustained political support and action from Europe’s policymakers would allow a new, multi-billion euro industry to be built.
