Installed floating wind power capacity is set to grow from 100 megawatt (MW) at present to 250 GW in 2050, a 2,000-fold increase, according to a recent report.
It added that floating wind would play an important role in decarbonising the global energy system, contributing 2 per cent of the world’s power supply by 2050 and more than 20 per cent of the offshore wind market.
However, more comprehensive industry standards and risk management would be required for the technology to scale.
“The cost of floating wind will fall about 70 per cent by 2050 and offer new opportunities to players in the offshore wind, oil and gas and maritime industries as they shift their portfolios to become less dependent on fossil fuels,” said the report titled ‘Floating Wind: The power to commercialise’ by Norway-based risk management and quality assurance company DNV GL.
According to the report, unrestrained by ocean depth, floating wind power would be an attractive option to bring wind power in reach of much more of the world’s population including the mega cities of Asia Pacific. Although the average cost is not expected to become less than for bottom-fixed wind, the price difference would narrow as both fall.
It added that the key to these savings would be the introduction of larger turbines, larger wind farms, significant technology developments and the creation of a highly cost-competitive supply chain.
“We know that floating wind is technically feasible; the challenge now is to move rapidly to commercial deployments,” said Remi Eriksen, group president and chief executive officer, DNV GL.
He added that the know-how from bottom fixed offshore wind, the competences of shipyards, and of oil and gas contractors all broadly align with the technical, logistical and operational challenges of floating wind.
