Offshore wind energy is not a new concept. It has been growing since the facility of Denmark's east coast began supplying power in 1991. Although that 4.95-MW facility has now been decommissioned, the offshore wind market has grown to an impressive 23 GW according to the latest figures from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
However, the growth of offshore wind has come under pressure because many of the high-wind, shallow-water sites required for the current breed of offshore wind turbines are in sight of land, causing resistance from local communities. However, the demand for renewable energy and wind power, in particular, is growing, seeking developers to look further offshore into deeper waters where the wind is often stronger. The challenge here is that traditional structures fixed to the seabed are impractical, hence the advent of floating wind turbines.
