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How it Works

Offshore wind is a larger-scale, more technologically challenging and expensive undertaking than onshore wind. However, it has huge potential due to the UK’s excellent offshore wind resource, which is stronger and more consistent than the wind resource onshore, leading to higher power outputs per turbine and more hours spent generating each year. The UK also benefits from relatively shallow waters, even when moving out to 20 to 30 kilometres offshore, which makes the installation of foundations easier as they can be driven into the seabed rather than requiring more complicated and costly floating devices.

Offshore turbines operate in much the same way as onshore turbines, although in general they are larger and more powerful. There are no technical barriers to installing offshore turbines, but the construction, delivery and assembly of such large machines need specialist equipment, for example special facilities at ports and installation vessels. Careful scheduling is also needed as offshore turbines can only be installed in calm seas. Changeable weather and sea conditions also mean that offshore turbines need to be extremely robust.

Offshore wind turbines also require underwater cabling to transport electricity back onshore and into the grid.

For a useful diagram on how an offshore wind farm works visit the British Wind Energy Associations website.