Floating Offshore Wind Capacity Jumps 38% Amid Headwinds | Mariner News
Global operational capacity for floating offshore wind surged by 38 percent over the past 12 months, reaching 382 MW, according to RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse report. This significant expansion underscores the segment’s resilience, advancing despite broader offshore wind industry headwinds, including mounting regulatory obstacles, soaring capital costs, and supply chain bottlenecks.
The increase from 277 MW to 382 MW in the period ending October highlights a sustained push for floating installations, which represent the offshore wind industry’s costliest variant. Europe continues to lead deployment, with Norway adding 97 MW, France 87 MW, and the UK 78 MW of new operational capacity. Asia also saw substantial additions, with China contributing 72 MW and Japan 22 MW.
Notably, 109 MW of new floating capacity has become operational since the start of 2026 alone, surpassing the previous annual record of 108 MW set in 2023. This sustained growth in new commissions indicates a maturing project pipeline and potentially accelerated deployment schedules in key regions.
While the U.S. market faces significant hurdles, including nearly $4 billion in federal lease buybacks and project halts during the Trump administration, the global pipeline for floating offshore wind remains robust. Some 300 projects, collectively boasting a capacity of 152 GW, are under development across 26 countries. This vast project inventory signals substantial future demand for specialized maritime assets, including heavy-lift vessels, construction support tonnage, and maintenance fleets, as well as port infrastructure capable of large-scale component assembly and marshalling for deepwater installations.
