Wind energy: the largest farms and offshore wind energy

According to the latest Global Wind Report 2023, a record-breaking 117 GW of new wind capacity was installed worldwide. Notably, China led the way with the most new wind energy installations on land and at sea, demonstrating its global leadership in the sector. The USA, Brazil, and Germany also made significant contributions. It’s worth noting the progress of Kenya, where wind energy now accounts for approximately 17% of electricity, and the country hosts Africa’s largest wind farm, Lake Turkana, with a capacity of 310 MW.

The world’s largest wind farm is Jiuquan Wind Power Base, also known as Gansu Wind Farm. Once completed, the farm will have 7,000 wind turbines installed in several Chinese provinces. In 2021, this farm reached a capacity of 10 GW, and ultimately, it is expected to have a capacity of 20 GW. The top three largest wind farms are completed by the British Dogger Bank (when launched in 2026, it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world) and a wind park in Rajasthan, India.

Gazelle Wind Power introduced an innovative floating wind platform built from modules that use less steel than competitors’ products. This makes it cheaper, lighter, and easier to install. It is a step forward in developing offshore wind energy. Currently, the sector relies mainly on turbines anchored in the seabed using permanent foundations, which cannot be used in waters deeper than 60 m. Meanwhile, approximately 80% of the world’s offshore wind energy resources are located in areas with deeper waters.