IFLOAT

The total installed offshore wind capacity in the EU in 2023 was 18 GW. Most of the expected dramatic increase in capacity will come from bottom-fixed offshore wind but its requirement of having depths below 60 meters – very specific to certain locations such as the continental shelf of the North Sea – means that the floating wind alternative will be necessary to achieving current goals of the EU.

In particular, floating wind is predominant in the southern sea basins with little or no capacity of offshore wind installed up until now. Floating wind energy is also a key technology for the outermost regions, many of them currently depending on carbon dioxide emitting and expensive energy sources, as room is limited for a significant solar or onshore wind deployment.

So, there is a need for the creation of a European innovation ecosystem that will answer the current bottlenecks of the floating wind sector, therefore boosting the European economy through green technology and creating a sustainable industry. To address these challenges, the I3FLOAT initiative is supporting innovation in floating wind technologies.