Offshore wind: Overview
Why engineers are taking wind turbines far out to sea
What this tile covers Turbines at sea, on fixed foundations in shallow water or floating platforms in deep water. Share of use 0.1% share of world energy supply (2024)Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. Offshore share of wind output estimated at 8.2% (83 GW offshore of 1,135 GW total, weighted by IRENA new-project capacity factors 41% vs 36%), giving 0.74 EJ of 592.2 EJ (calculated). Fleet factors differ from new-project factors. Source: Offshore wind installed capacity reaches 83 GW as new report finds 2024 a record year for construction and auctions, GWEC.
Key facts
| Output | Electricity |
Included from the reference tables
- Fixed-bottom offshore
- Floating offshore
Linked to the material world
St SteelCu CopperREE Rare earthsAlso in Wind
WOn Onshore windWSm Small, airborne and traditional windExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.