Wind energy generation reached a new record high of 20.6 TWh in Germany in February 2022, according to research conducted by Rystad Energy. Wind contributed 77% of the country’s renewable energy output for that month and 45% of Germany’s entire energy mix. This means that wind energy was 80% higher in February 2022 than in March 2021. 

Germany also hit 60 GW of operational capacity in solar PV by the end of 2021, only 3 GW less than wind energy. The two renewable sources complement each other as wind tends to be most productive during the first and last quarters of the year whilst solar leads throughout spring and summer. 

Overall across Europe, wind generation as a source of electricity reached 59.7 TWh, surpassing gas at 41.4 TWh and almost beating nuclear at 60.2 TWh, according to the market analyst. 

Some 63 GW of wind energy is operational in Germany alone, with a further 10 GW in the pipeline at the end of 2021. About 710 MW of solar PV capacity and 210 MW of additional wind capacity has been installed so far in 2022.

Plans for floating wind farms offshore Mediterranean

An agreement to build two new floating offshore wind projects over 35 km from the Sicilian and Sardinian coastlines has been signed by GreenIT and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Together, the wind farms would have 750 MW capacity and prevent up to 1mn t/y of CO₂ emissions. 

The Sicilian floating wind farm will be constructed off the coast of Marsala and will be commissioned in 2026. Plans are to build 21 12 MW turbines with a total capacity of around 250 MW.

A second project of 42 12 MW wind turbines will be built facing the south-western coast of Sardinia. Operations are slated to commence in 2028, with a total capacity of more than 500 MW.

Collectively, the two wind farms would produce over 2,000 GWh/y, enough to supply approximately 750,000 households. Building them offshore means they will produce around 50% more energy with the same power compared to an onshore wind farm, claim GreenIT and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

Spanish offshore wind development

In another example of multinational energy companies expanding offshore wind, Equinor and Naturgy are planning to jointly assess opportunities to develop and construct floating wind farms ahead of Spain’s first offshore wind auction. 

The auction, expected to be in the Canaries in 2023, is part of the Spanish government’s target to transform its energy mix and develop up to 3 GW offshore wind by 2030. 

Push to scale floating wind in Southern Europe

Despite the progress being made to expand offshore wind projects, DNV is urging the industry to remove barriers to growth in France, Portugal and Spain. The independent energy expert and assurance provider predicts that offshore wind’s contribution to the wider energy mix will grow to about 40% of all wind production, with floating wind accounting for 264 GW of the total 1,748 GW capacity by 2050.

Floating turbines provide access to over four times as much surface over deep water compared to bottom-fixed ones, enabling developers to target areas with higher wind speeds and lower social and environmental impacts. 

Southern European countries are increasingly recognising the potential that floating wind farms offer. Already this year, France has launched a 500 MW auction round in the Mediterranean in line with its offshore wind capacity target of 7.4 GW by 2030, and Portugal has announced a possible 3–5 GW auction this year. 

However, more and faster movement is needed to meet net zero targets, ensure energy security and slash prices, according to Ditlev Engel, CEO of Energy Systems at DNV. ‘This can only happen with strengthened public support and the removal of the remaining barriers in these countries' regulatory frameworks,' Engel says.