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Offshore wind farms are playing a crucial role in the global transition toward clean and sustainable energy. As countries look for long-term solutions to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, offshore wind energy has emerged as one of the most reliable and scalable options.
Compared to onshore wind farms, offshore wind projects offer several advantages. Wind speeds over oceans are generally higher and more consistent, allowing turbines to generate more electricity. Offshore wind farms also face fewer land-use conflicts and can be developed at much larger scales. While many wind farms use fixed turbines installed on the seabed in shallow waters, floating wind turbines are now being developed for deeper waters, opening new possibilities for expansion.
Europe currently leads the offshore wind sector, with the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands hosting some of the world’s largest projects. At the same time, countries such as China, the United States, and Taiwan are rapidly increasing investments in offshore wind infrastructure.
Below is a detailed look at the 12 biggest offshore wind farms in the world, ranked by installed capacity.
1. Dogger Bank Wind Farm
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm when fully completed in 2026. Located more than 130 km off the northeast coast of England in the North Sea, the project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vargronn.
The wind farm is being developed in three phases, Dogger Bank A, B, and C, with a combined capacity of 3.6 GW. Each phase will generate 1.2 GW of electricity, enough to power six million UK homes. The project uses Haliade-X 13 MW turbines, among the most powerful in the world, and electricity is transmitted using HVDC technology, a first for UK wind farms.
2. Greater Changhua Offshore Wind Farm
Located off the coast of Changhua County, Taiwan, the Greater Changhua project consists of four wind farms with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW. Developed by Ørsted, Changhua 1 and 2a became operational in 2024, while Changhua 2b and 4 are expected to follow in 2026.
Once fully operational, the project will supply electricity to around 2.8 million households, making it the largest offshore wind development in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.
3. Hornsea 2 Offshore Wind Farm
Hornsea 2 is currently the largest operational offshore wind farm in the world. Located 89 km off the Yorkshire coast, it has a total capacity of 1.32 GW and is operated by Ørsted.
The wind farm covers 462 square kilometres and uses 165 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines. Each turbine rotation can generate enough electricity to power a home for an entire day.
4. Hornsea 1 Offshore Wind Farm
Hornsea 1 was the first offshore wind farm to exceed 1 GW in capacity and held the title of the world’s largest until Hornsea 2 became operational. With a capacity of 1.2 GW, it powers over one million UK homes.
The project, operational since 2019, consists of 174 turbines and is jointly owned by Ørsted and Jupiter Offshore Wind.
5. Borssele Offshore Wind Farm
The Borssele Wind Farm Zone lies 24 km offshore in the Dutch North Sea and includes multiple projects with a combined capacity of 1.5 GW. Developed by Ørsted, Blauwwind II, and Two Towers, the wind farms transmit power to the Dutch national grid via Borssele.
6. Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm
Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen, became fully operational in October 2023. Located 27 km off the Angus coast, it has a capacity of 1,075 MW and consists of 114 turbines.
Seagreen powers over 1.6 million homes and is a key contributor to Scotland’s net-zero goals, offsetting more than two million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
7. Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm
The 857 MW Triton Knoll Wind Farm is located off England’s east coast and features 90 wind turbines. Owned by RWE, Kansai Electric Power, and J-Power, it can power nearly one million UK homes each year.
8. Hollandse Kust Noord
Developed by CrossWind, a partnership between Shell and Eneco, Hollandse Kust Noord lies off the Dutch coast and has a capacity of 759 MW. It became operational in December 2023 and uses 69 Siemens Gamesa turbines, showcasing cost efficiency through larger turbine technology.
9. East Anglia ONE
The 714 MW East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm is located off the coast of Suffolk, UK. Developed by ScottishPower Renewables, it supplies electricity to over 630,000 homes and plays a significant role in the UK’s net-zero strategy.
10. Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm
Situated in the Irish Sea, Walney Extension has a capacity of 659 MW and consists of 87 turbines. Owned by Ørsted and partners, it once held the title of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
11. Gemini Offshore Wind Farm
Located in the Dutch North Sea, Gemini has a capacity of 600 MW and has been operational since 2017. It includes 150 turbines and supplies electricity to around 785,000 homes.
12. Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm
Beatrice Wind Farm lies off the coast of Caithness, Scotland, and has a capacity of 588 MW. Operational since 2019, it is one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind projects and represents a major private investment in renewable infrastructure.
Source: www.power-technology.com
Conclusion
The world’s biggest offshore wind farms demonstrate how rapidly renewable energy infrastructure is expanding. With advances in turbine technology, transmission systems, and floating foundations, offshore wind is set to play an even greater role in the global clean energy transition.
