Crown Estate Publishes Report on Operational UK Offshore Wind Farms

The Crown Estate has published its first report on all UK offshore wind farms which are operational or nearing construction.

The ‘Offshore wind operational report 2013’ is the first aggregation of data showing both achievements, progress and the near-term potential.

The report combines previously published and newly available information, providing clarity as to what has already been achieved in the successful delivery of offshore wind and to put this into context from both a regional and a national perspective.

Highlights include:

• The total offshore wind farm output of green electricity for 2012 was 7.5 terawatt hours (TWh) – enough to supply six per cent of all the homes in the UK.
• It’s estimated that around 1,000 people are directly employed in operations and maintenance roles to keep the 20 existing completed wind farms running smoothly on sites around the UK.
• Since 2004, offshore wind energy has seen an annual growth rate of 54 per cent in generated electricity.
• Nearly five millions tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were avoided in 2012 through low carbon energy project across the portfolio – the majority directly as a consequence of operational offshore wind farms.

The Crown Estate is taking a proactive approach to help the industry realise its full potential, working with statutory and non-statutory bodies, regulators, trade associations, the UK government and devolved administrations.

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Press release, June 19, 2013; Image: Vattenfall