European offshore wind build swells but action needed to 'keep progress on track'

Offshore wind deployment in Europe in the first half of 2021 edged up on the same period last year but the rate of build-out, which saw only three countries install new turbines, remains far off pace for the EU’s longer-tern targets, latest figures from advocacy body WindEurope show.

Europe added 1.34GW of new offshore wind capacity during 1H, compared to 1.2GW in the first half of 2020, as installation activity in Germany – previously the world’s second-largest sector market – paused completely, though new machines were added in Danish waters (Kriegers Flak), off the UK (Triton Knoll) and on a lake in the Netherlands (Windpark Fryslan).