The Offshore wind farm UK aims to deploy up to 5 gigawatts of floating offshore wind power by 2030, contributing to its broader target of 50 gigawatts of total offshore wind capacity by the same year. Also, Floating wind technology has macroeconomic benefits, potentially supporting up to 17,000 jobs, boosting the offshore wind supply chain with billions in investment, and achieving a 57% UK content by 2031.

The UK is leading the race to become the global leader in green energy with extensive projects. The coastlines of the UK are very windy with high potential for offshore wind energy. But offshore wind is only limited to 60 meters of shallow waters, innovative solution? It’s floating offshore wind. Floating offshore wind can operate in deep waters at 300m with the technology available now.

Currently, the UK has two operational floating wind farms Hywind Scotland and Kincardine Wind Farm with a combined capacity of 80MW. Compared to 14 GW of offshore wind farms, the number is much less for floating offshore. But the hope is high, the two installed wind farms cover two-thirds of the total floating offshore wind capacity in the world.

In this blog, we explore the top seven floating offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom classified according to capacity. Let’s dive into the UK’s floating offshore industry.

Floating Offshore Wind UK

The UK has an established offshore renewable energy industry with the largest offshore wind farm in the world, Dobber Bank with 3.6 GW capacity. The floating technology is pushing the UK even further, unlocking the potential of deeper waters and significantly boosting renewable energy generation.

Traditional offshore wind farms utilize fixed-bottom turbines anchored to the seabed. However, their feasibility diminishes as water depth increases. This is where floating offshore wind comes in. This innovative wind turbine is fixed on a floating platform, tethered to the seabed with mooring lines. This allows it to be deployed in deeper waters, where wind speeds are stronger and more consistent, leading to greater energy production.

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Top Floating Offshore Wind Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

The UK's leadership in floating offshore wind isn’t about goals and announcements. A rigid action plan both operational and under development, showcases the UK's commitment to this transformative technology. Let’s explore in detail the operational and under-development floating offshore projects in the UK.

Operational Floating Wind Farms in the UK (2024)

Hywind Scotland

The Hywind Pilot Park is the world's first offshore floating wind farm, located in the North Sea, off the coast of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The wind farm uses five Siemens SWT-6.0-154 6MW floating turbines and is expected to generate approximately 30 MW of green energy. The facility began production in October 2017 and is expected to supply clean power to approximately 20,000 households.

The onshore construction works on Hywind Pilot Park began in 2016, followed by offshore installation in 2017. The wind farm infrastructure, including an onshore switchgear yard, was developed by Statoil, while the grid connection was arranged by SSE. Siemens was awarded the contract to supply offshore wind turbines for the project.

Aibel was awarded a contract to provide front-end engineering design (FEED) and engineering and management assistance (EMA) for the substructures of the offshore wind farm. Statoil contracted Younicos to deliver a 1MW battery system for connecting to Hywind Scotland.

Read: Floating Wind Farms: What Is It and How Does It Work? Explained

Kincardine wind farm

Kincardine Offshore Windfarm is a 50 MW offshore wind power project located in the North Sea, Scotland, UK. The project is currently active and was developed in multiple phases in 2018. It is co-owned by Actividades de Construccion y Servicios and Pilot Offshore Renewables, each with a 50% stake. The project generates 218,000MWh of electricity and supplies clean energy to power 55,000 households, offsetting 94,500t of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) a year.

The wind turbines are installed on floating semi-submersible foundations. Phase I uses a single 2 MW Vestas Wind Systems V80-2.0 MW turbine, while Phase II uses five 9.525MW Vestas Offshore Wind V164-9.5 MW turbines. Cobra Wind International was responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction services. Vestas Offshore Wind has been the O&M contractor for the project for 10 years.

Upcoming Floating Wind Farms in the UK (2024)

We explored how the established projects are driving the UK's offshore wind industry, the future holds even greater promise with the emergence of innovative floating wind farms. These next-generation projects unlock even deeper waters and stronger winds, significantly boosting the UK's offshore wind capacity. Let’s look at some of the upcoming floating offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom:

Arven Floating Offshore Wind Power Plant

The Arven Offshore Wind Farm is planned for the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland. With a targeted capacity of 2.3 GW, it has the potential to be a major player in Scotland's clean energy future using floating wind technology. Currently in the permitting stage, the project is a collaborative effort between Mainstream Renewable Power (50% stake), EDP Renovaveis (25% stake), and Engie (25% stake). Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 and reach commercial operation by 2030.

The Arven Floating offshore is expected to have an estimated project value of USD 3500 million. Spanning a vast area of 360 square kilometers, the Arven wind farm will utilize floating foundations for its turbines. This technology allows for wind energy capture in deeper waters, potentially maximizing the project's overall efficiency. Once operational, the wind farm is expected to generate enough clean energy to power 2 million households and offset 3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Read: Top Five Upcoming Offshore Wind Farm Power Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

Bellrock Floating Offshore Wind Power Plant

The Bellrock Offshore Wind Project is a 1.2 GW project planned for the North Sea, east of Aberdeen, Scotland. The project is developed by a joint venture between BlueFloat Energy and Renantis UK, each holding a 50% stake. This project is a key player in Scotland's ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. 

Currently in the permitting stage (as of April 2024), construction is expected to begin this year and reach commercial operation by 2028. The project has an estimated value of USD 1800 million.

The Bellrock floating offshore wind has the potential to power over 1.1 million homes. Spanning a vast 280 square kilometers, this wind farm will be a pioneer in floating wind turbine technology, utilizing floating foundations to harness wind energy in deeper waters. This project aligns with the Scottish government's plan to establish a robust 11 GW offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Ayre Floating Offshore Wind Power Plant

The Ayre and Bowdun Offshore Wind Farms are a pair of large-scale projects being developed in Scotland. Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) is behind the initiative, aiming to utilize both floating and fixed-foundation technologies for wind farms. With an expected capacity of 1 GW each, upon completion, they are anticipated to generate enough electricity to power 2.4 million households. The project cost is estimated to be USD 1500 million.

Currently, the projects are in the environmental impact assessment development and planning phases. The final investment decision is expected in 2028, with construction beginning in 2029 and completion targeted for 2033. The Ayre wind farm will be a floating wind farm located east of Scotland, while the Bowdun project will use fixed foundations off the coast of Aberdeen.

Broadshore Floating Offshore Wind Power Plant

The Broadshore offshore wind project is a 900-megawatt offshore wind farm planned for the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland. Currently in the permitting stage, the project is a joint venture between BlueFloat Energy and Renantis UK, each holding a 50% stake. Construction is expected to begin this year (2024) and reach commercial operation by 2028. The project value of Broadshore floating offshore is estimated to be USD 1350 million.

Spanning an area of 134 square kilometers, the Broadshore wind farm will utilize floating foundations for its turbines. This innovative approach allows for wind energy harnessing in deeper waters, potentially increasing the project's overall efficiency. Once operational, the wind farm is anticipated to contribute significantly to Scotland's clean energy goals.

Read: Floating Offshore Wind Turbine, What is It and How Does it Work?

Green Volt Floating Offshore Wind Power Plant

The Green Volt Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a 560 MW energy project planned for the Scottish North Sea. The project is a joint venture between Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn and is expected to reach a final investment decision by the end of 2024, with commercial operations commencing in 2027. The project has an estimated value of USD 720 million.

The wind farm will be located around 75 kilometers east of the Aberdeenshire coast on a brownfield site that formerly housed oil fields. It will utilize up to 35 floating wind turbines with capacities between 10 MW and 16 MW each. These turbines will be installed on floating substructures moored to the seabed and connected by a network of inter-array cables. The generated electricity will be exported to the Buzzard platform via a short cable and then to the UK grid through a longer offshore export cable with a landfall site near Peterhead.

Role of the UK Government

The UK government is the biggest driving force behind offshore wind development. Their commitment is evident in several key areas, having ambitious deployment targets. Aiming to have up to 5 GW of floating wind capacity operational by 2030. The UK government is also implementing various strategies to strengthen the domestic supply chain for floating offshore wind, including grants and skills development programs.

“The UK’s offshore market is one of the most successful in the world and floating wind is the next chapter in this exciting story, backed up by recent support from the UK Government to unlock further important capacity over the coming years.”                                                                                                                       - Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate 

Floating offshore is an expensive affair, and the UK government’s financial backing is a crucial element. The government utilizes the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to provide financial support for low-carbon power infrastructure. Additionally, the recent Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) offers grants of up to £160 million. This targets critical port infrastructure needed to deploy these large-scale floating offshore wind turbines, smoothing the path for future projects.

The Crown Estate's Celtic Sea Leasing Round 5 is an opportunity to develop floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea. The government also gives importance to innovation, with research and development (R&D) efforts in floating offshore wind technology. This fosters advancements and cost reductions, making floating wind farms a more viable option in the long run.

There are also several companies that are contributing to the UK's leadership in floating offshore wind, including Ørsted, Principle Power, BlueFloat Energy, ORE Catapult, Scottish Renewables, and EDF Renewables.

Conclusion

The United Kingdom is a leader in the development of floating offshore wind projects, with a focus on harnessing wind energy in deeper waters to significantly boost renewable energy generation. The country has operational projects like Hywind Scotland and Kincardine wind farm, with plans for upcoming projects such as Bellrock, Ayre, Broadshore, Arven, and Green Volt. The UK government estimates that floating offshore wind projects could generate enough electricity to power millions of homes, significantly reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and bolstering energy security. The commitment to floating offshore wind technology is evident in the UK's ambitious deployment targets, aiming to have up to 5 gigawatts of floating wind capacity operational by 2030.

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