Navigant Research Report Shows the Global Wind Industry Installed an Estimated 3.3 GW of New Offshore Capacity in 2017

Technology improvements and cost reductions are anticipated to continue driving installations

BOULDER, Colo. — A new report from Navigant Research offers a country-level analysis of all offshore wind markets, including related policies, incentives, and regulatory environments, wind turbine market shares by country, and global market forecasts for offshore wind power capacity, segmented by project status and country.

Offshore wind continues to be an abundant clean energy solution for many coastal load centers where a greater proportion of population and energy demand is located. In addition, the resource is becoming more cost-effective with each competitive tender in Europe, with industry-leading countries such as the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium well into a transition phase to market-oriented policies that drive project costs down. Click to tweet: According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH, the global wind industry installed an estimated 3.3 GW of new offshore capacity in 2017, bringing the global cumulative total to almost 17 GW.

“While the onshore wind market is larger in terms of total megawatt plant capacity added annually, offshore wind is growing more quickly,” says Jesse Broehl, senior research analyst at Navigant Research. “It is forecast to grow at an 11.1 percent compound annual growth rate between 2017 and 2022, compared to single-digit growth rates for onshore wind.”

Contributing to this forecast is a substantial 7.9 GW in varying levels of construction, primarily in Europe but also increasingly in China, according to the report. Other factors driving the market include technology improvements, such as an increase in turbine blade rotor diameters exceeding 160 meters, and cost reduction strategies in power-purchase agreements and other pricing metrics.

The report, Offshore Wind Market and Project Assessment 2017, provides a country-level analysis of all offshore wind markets, including related policies, incentives, and regulatory environments. The study assesses global wind project construction and advanced development underway. Global market forecasts for offshore wind power capacity are segmented by project status and country. Turbine vendor data is provided, including global market shares and more granular installed capacity by country and by wind turbine vendor. Also detailed are average rotor diameters and turbine nameplate ratings by installed year, along with the market share diversification of offshore foundation types. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Energy Technologies, Utility Transformations, Transportation Efficiencies, and Buildings Innovations sectors. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

About Navigant

Navigant Consulting, Inc. is a specialized, global professional services firm that helps clients take control of their future. Navigant’s professionals apply deep industry knowledge, substantive technical expertise, and an enterprising approach to help clients build, manage and/or protect their business interests. With a focus on markets and clients facing transformational change and significant regulatory or legal pressures, the Firm primarily serves clients in the healthcare, energy and financial services industries. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and technology/analytics services, Navigant’s practitioners bring sharp insight that pinpoints opportunities and delivers powerful results. More information about Navigant can be found at navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Offshore Wind Market and Project Assessment 2017, is a summary and reflects Navigant Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Navigant Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.