Offshore wind power

Offshore wind power generates electricity with wind turbines installed in marine waters. It uses stronger, steadier winds at sea, but requires foundations or floating platforms, undersea cables, and marine infrastructure.

Wind turbine: A machine that converts wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical power, commonly to generate electricity. Its rotor and generator perform the core energy conversion at sea.
Offshore wind farm: A group of offshore wind turbines and associated infrastructure that generates electricity as a coordinated project. Commercial offshore wind power is typically developed and operated as a farm.
Onshore wind power: Electricity generation using wind turbines installed on land. It shares turbine technology with offshore wind but avoids marine construction and access challenges.
Marine spatial planning: A public process for allocating marine areas among uses while considering ecological, economic, and social objectives. Offshore wind sites must fit among shipping, fishing, conservation, and other marine uses.
Offshore wind turbine foundation: A structure that anchors an offshore wind turbine to the seabed or supports it above the seabed. Fixed-bottom turbines depend on foundations matched to water depth and seabed conditions.
Offshore wind resource assessment: The measurement and modeling of wind conditions to estimate the energy available at an offshore site. Developers need reliable wind estimates before choosing turbine locations and project scale.
Floating offshore wind power: Offshore wind generation using turbines supported by floating platforms rather than seabed-fixed foundations. It is a distinct offshore approach for deeper waters beyond many fixed-bottom sites.
Environmental impact assessment: A process for identifying and evaluating the likely environmental effects of a proposed project before approval. Assessments examine construction and operation effects on marine habitats and wildlife.
Floating wind turbine: An offshore wind turbine mounted on a buoyant platform anchored to the seabed by mooring lines. Floating platforms make turbine sites possible in waters too deep for conventional fixed foundations.
Offshore wind transmission: The electrical infrastructure that carries power from offshore wind farms to onshore grids. Subsea export cables and grid connections determine how a marine project delivers electricity.

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