|31 October 2016|
Tokyo
By supporting technology innovation governments can facilitate a boom in offshore wind generation, according to a new report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
IRENA’s Innovation Outlook: Offshore Wind is being launched at the World Wind Energy Conference in Tokyo and reveals that offshore wind – which generated 13 gigawatts (GW) in 2015 – has the potential to grow to 100 GW in 2030.
“Offshore wind power is poised to become a leading power generation technology in a decarbonised global economy,” said Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of IRENA. “Now that onshore wind power is cost-competitive with conventional power generation technologies, more attention is shifting to offshore applications, characterised by high technical power generation potential.”
The report highlights technology innovation and impending breakthroughs on the horizon – including floating turbines and next generation wind turbines with larger blades – as key indicators of the direction of travel.
“The potential for offshore wind is enormous, but to realise it, governments must support technology innovation, and implement mechanisms to reduce technical risk and finance costs,” said Stefen Gsaenger, Secretary-General of the World Wind Energy Association. “This report from IRENA helps lay the foundation for this needed action.”
