European Wind Energy Association Predicts Record Offshore Output

July 21, 2010 -- According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), 118 new offshore wind turbines in European waters were fully connected to the mainland grid in the first half of this year, raising the overall offshore wind energy capacity from new turbines to 333 megawatts. For the entire 2009, the EWEA said, new offshore wind turbines generated a total capacity of 577 megawatts.

An additional 151 new wind turbines have been installed, but not yet connected to the grid. Those turbines will generate 440 megawatts of wind power.

To date in Europe, there are 948 offshore wind turbines in 43 fully operational offshore wind farms, with a total capacity of 2,396 megawatts. The EWEA says that 16 more offshore wind farms are under construction. Once finished, those farms will raise the capacity of offshore wind farms to 3,972 megawatts.

"Despite the financial crisis offshore wind continues to be a major growth industry" said Justin Wilkes, Director of Policy at EWEA. "The number of offshore wind turbines connected to the grid in the first half of this year is well over half the total amount installed all last year and I am confident we are heading for a record year."

Read more at Wind Energy Industry Today:
Wind Capacity news - http://windenergy.einnews.com/news/wind-capacity
EWEA news - http://windenergy.einnews.com/news/european-wind-energy-association

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