New larger-model turbines are helping offshore wind plants such as the UK’s giant 1.2GW Hornsea 1 development reach capacity factors of over 70%, giving a boost to British ambitions for sea-based power to take up a baseload role in the country’s future energy system, according to latest calculations by Cornwall Insight.
A survey in January by the analyst group of 120 project sites found that capacity factors at older “pre-2016” offshore wind farms averaged 52%, with newer developments seeing this percentage figure rise to between 55% and 70%, and “on some days approach[ing] 100%”.
