ABSTRACT
Offshore wind energy has a critical role to play in the decarbonisation of European economy by 2080 (Wind in Power, EWEA Statistics, 2014). The total European wind energy installed capacity reached a total of 117.3GW at the end of 2013 with 6.6 GW having been installed offshore (The European offshore industry, EWEA Report, 2014). Approximately half of the installed offshore capacity or 3.3 GW has been installed in UK waters. The North Sea has been the
primary location for offshore wind farm construction with 66% of all projects built there. Another 20% of offshore wind energy capacity has been installed in North East Atlantic Ocean waters and 14% in the Baltic Sea (Deep water, EWEA Report, 2013). Approximately 3GW of offshore wind energy capacity are currently under construction, predominantly in the North East Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and 22GW have also been consented. Future plans currently in the pipeline add up to 133 GW (The European offshore industry, EWEA Report, 2014). This
the wind energy capacity installed in European waters could exceed 150 GW (Deep water, EWEA Report, 2013).
