Offshore wind and ocean energy combination can fulfil Europe’s electricity demand

Offshore wind, wave and tidal energy together could technically provide all of Europe’s future electricity demand. This vision is being developed by a group of industry experts and scientists under the EU ORECCA project. The group will come together later this week for a two day workshop organised by Siemens and Ecofys in the Netherlands.

Increasing depth and distance

Today offshore wind turbines with a total capacity of around 2.8 GW, are feeding energy into the European grids. Most of the wind farms are installed less than 20 km from the coast and in relatively shallow water depths up to 20 m. New offshore wind farms are being developed at distances around 40 km from the coast and in 40 m depths. These numbers will increase further in the coming years.

Offshore wind and ocean energy combination can fulfil Europe’s electricity demand | Tomorrow is greener