The offshore wind energy sector in Spain continues to make significant strides, consolidating its position with 23.9 GW in projects under development, according to an analysis by Energía Estratégica España.

This figure places the country among the most important players globally, not only in terms of installed capacity but also in its commitment to floating technology. This solution is gaining traction in deep waters, and Spain holds 9% of the global portfolio in various stages of development.

In this global context, Spain stands out with an ambitious plan to increase its presence in offshore wind energy. With nearly 24 GW in the pipeline, the country is positioning itself as one of the leaders in Europe, driven by key projects from developers such as Capital Energy with 3,588 MW spread across 10 projects, Grupo Cobra with 3,199.6 MW across 9 initiatives, and Abei Energy contributing 2,934.8 MW through 7 projects.

Meanwhile, Ferrovial joins the race with 2,715 MW across 6 projects, the Iberblue Wind consortium with 2,532 MW in 3 proposals, and the alliance between BlueFloat and Sener, which adds 2,440 MW through 4 initiatives.

Additionally, Iberdrola, one of the giants in renewable energy in the country, contributes 1,763 MW across 4 projects, reaffirming its leadership in the sector. Other companies such as Qair Energy (1,010 MW), Magtel (852 MW), and Invenergy Renewables (552 MW) also play a significant role in the transformation of Spain’s energy model.

Proyectos de eólica marina en España, relevados por Energía Estratégica España.

Additionally, companies such as Repsol (525 MW), RWE Renewables (260 MW), and Acciona Energía (210 MW) are demonstrating their growing interest in offshore wind, a key technology to achieve the country’s decarbonization and sustainability goals.

These figures highlight the importance of Spanish investment in this innovative technology, which allows for the exploitation of deeper marine areas where traditional wind turbines cannot be installed.

The expansion of floating wind energy will not only allow Spain to make a significant contribution to global emission reduction goals, but it also presents an opportunity for economic development and job creation in the country. Collaboration between industry, research, and government will be crucial to maintaining the growth momentum and achieving economies of scale that make floating technology more cost-competitive.

In the European context, which accounts for 62% of the global floating capacity, Spain is closely competing with countries like the United Kingdom, which holds 12% of the global portfolio, and Italy, which leads with 16%.

Indeed, Spain is not only positioning itself as one of the countries with the highest offshore wind capacity but is also charting a clear path toward harnessing floating wind, a technology that will be key in transforming the global energy sector in the coming decades.

Globally, floating offshore wind energy has experienced remarkable growth in the past year. According to the latest RenewableUK report, the global floating project portfolio has reached 266 gigawatts (GW), a 9% increase from the previous year, with 31 additional projects, raising the total number of initiatives from 285 to 316.

Although most of the installed floating capacity is still in the early stages of development, with 245 MW operational in 15 projects across seven countries, expansion is undeniable.

Norway leads in installed floating capacity with 94 MW, followed by the United Kingdom (78 MW), China (40 MW), and Portugal (25 MW). Regarding projects under construction, the report states that 102 MW are in active development, with a significant amount in preconstruction and planning phases.

Currently, 7.3 GW of capacity are approved or in preconstruction, representing 22 projects. Furthermore, 21.6 GW are in the planning system, corresponding to 15 projects, while 184 GW are in early development or leasing stages.

Italy leads the list of projects with 16% of the total global capacity, equivalent to 41.3 GW; however, most of these are in early stages of development. The United States ranks second with 13% (approximately 35.3 GW), followed by the United Kingdom with 12% (about 33.1 GW). Spain holds a 9% share (24.7 GW), and Sweden is at 7% (18.2 GW).

Globally, nearly 62% (equivalent to 165 GW) of the announced floating wind energy capacity is being developed in European waters. Of this total, 12% (33.1 GW) corresponds to projects in British waters, three-quarters of which (24.8 GW) are located in Scottish waters.

Capacidad de proyectos en desarrollo por país según RenewableUK

Dan McGrail, CEO of RenewableUK and co-chair of the floating offshore wind working group, commented: “It’s fantastic to see that the UK maintains its position as a global leader in floating wind energy, but in an increasingly competitive global market, the industry will now need to work even harder with the government to ensure that we increase the amount of floating capacity secured in each annual auction going forward to maintain our advantage. This will enable us to build a world-class supply chain and achieve the economies of scale we need to reduce costs as quickly as possible.”

McGrail also mentioned that the floating offshore wind working group will publish an important report highlighting the significant industrial opportunity represented by this innovative technology, emphasizing its potential to contribute to the economic growth of Great Britain and the development of a cleaner energy system in the coming decades.