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What is offshore wind?
Mis à jour le
March 6, 2026
5
Min reading
The problem of replacing fossil fuels By the renewables concerns states, local authorities, businesses and ordinary consumers...
To find solutions, energy specialists are constantly exploring numerous possibilities. It is in this context that attention is turning more to Offshore wind.
Don't let the term “offshore” fool you. This has nothing to do with the tax havens that have been in the news in recent years. Offshore wind is A source of energy which is created thanks to the kinetic energy of the wind, but in this case, wind turbines are not terrestrial. To know everything about it, follow the SirEnergies guide.
What is an offshore wind farm?
The term “wind turbine” Is derived from Aeolus, name of the god of the wind in Greek mythology. According to the stories of ancient authors, three different characters would have the same name. We are not intended to clearly identify who was considered to be the true Greek god Aeolus between the son of Hippotes, the son of Hellen and the son of Poseidon. The power to control the winds was attributed to a certain Aeolus.
Offshore wind is the other form of harnessing wind kinetic energy for produce electricity outside of onshore or onshore wind power. Offshore wind turbine installations can be found far away in the ocean and along the coasts.
Offshore wind turbines and onshore wind turbines differ primarily in terms of structure. Offshore wind turbines are likely to be installed both on the ground and anchored at the bottom of the ocean, except for floating wind turbines. Most of the time, offshore wind turbines are grouped together in offshore wind farms. The latter each include about twenty to fifty wind turbines with several megawatts of unit power.
How offshore wind power works
In absolute terms, offshore wind has the same mode of operation as onshore wind power. It has practically the same components that the latter, namely:
- a mast,
- a propeller,
- a transformer,
- a gondola,
- the anchoring device.
The nacelle of a marine wind turbine contains two hydraulic cranes who carry out handling operations.
The blades of the wind turbine propeller rotate under the effect of the wind and generate mechanical energy. Mechanical energy acts on a generator that creates alternating electrical current. Submarine cables transport the alternating current to an electrical substation installed a few meters from the wind turbine. A system of underground lines is in turn responsible for conveying the electrical current to the terrestrial electrical network.
According to the 2017 WindEurope report, offshore wind farms had a depth of 27 km in European seas that year. One of the points that distinguishes wind turbines installed on the seabed from those on land is the resistance to extreme conditions. They are designed to deal with the most violent winds and corrosion.
According to WindEurope again, the load factor of offshore wind farms in Europe varies from 29 to 48%. For information, the load factor is the ratio between the number of hours of operation in full power equivalent and the number of hours of theoretical operation in the year.
The different types of offshore wind
La production Of wind energy by offshore installations is done via four technologies.
The Grand Large offshore wind turbine
The Grand Large offshore wind turbine is characterized by floats and A tension cable anchor. Energy is delivered through a dynamic electrical connection following the movement of the wind turbine. In France, projects to install this type of wind turbine are planned. According to estimates, each installation will be used to supply 40,000 inhabitants.
The WindFloat offshore wind turbine
The WindFloat offshore wind turbine consists of semi-submersible floats made of three columns anchored on the seabed. It uses Principle Power technology. This type of wind turbine is being installed more and more by the giants of energy supply in the world.
The Spar offshore wind turbine
The Spar offshore wind turbine is characterized by its weighted steel cylinder base unlike most other models that have an anchoring system. It settles on the high seas. It is generally found at a depth of more than 800 m, between 95 and 130 m off the coast. It is exploited in the seas of northern Europe.
The Free Floating offshore wind turbine
The Free Floating offshore wind turbine is the most resistant. She is made of concrete barges, which makes it suitable for dealing with very violent swells and gusts of wind. The installation of this type of offshore wind turbine is complex, but its performance is very high.
Advantages and limitations of offshore wind
Offshore wind takes advantage of the flatness of the ocean where winds face very few obstacles. This allows the propellers to operate the power generator at a steady pace.
According to experts, with equal power, Offshore wind turbines are twice as productive than the onshore wind turbine. This family of wind turbines has been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years. As a result, the technologies used to take advantage of them are very advanced. Regardless of the harshness of the maritime conditions, it is possible to set up a wind farm.
Limits of offshore wind turbines
The use of offshore wind to take advantage of wind energy is limited by the high cost of deployment. The cost of an offshore wind farm is 30-50% higher than the cost of a land-based installation. This is in particular due to the resources to be invested in foundations and the offshore electrical connection. The maintenance of offshore wind turbines is complex and requires significant costs.
Furthermore, although the winds are relatively more stable on the high seas than on land, Intermittence is also noticeable in marine wind turbines.
The exploitation of offshore wind energy in the world
Offshore wind is increasingly used in the world for reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels. From the United States to Japan to Germany, a number of countries around the world already have offshore wind farms.
The golden palm for exploiting offshore wind energy goes to the countries of Northern Europe. In this region of the world, winds circulate at an average speed of more than 8 m/s, at a height of 50 m. This implies a power density in excess of 600 W/m².
The first offshore wind farm was set up in Denmark in 1991. The country is now very advanced in the sector. The United Kingdom is also the leader in this field.
In 2011, France launched its first call for tenders forinstallation of offshore wind turbines. Along some French coasts, such as in Brittany, offshore wind turbines are visible, which should provide electricity to thousands of households in the coming months.
In short, offshore wind energy is nevertheless of major economic and ecological interest. It is one of the solutions to perform An energy mix onwards renewable sources.
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