Roughly 250 offshore wind farms are operational globally in 2025, with over 80 GW of installed capacity. The UK led development for over a decade; China is now the largest single market. This guide covers the count, geographic distribution, and pipeline that will double capacity by 2030.
The count
| Country | Approx operational farms | Capacity (GW) |
|---|---|---|
| China | ~60 | ~35 |
| UK | ~50 | ~15 |
| Germany | ~30 | ~9 |
| Netherlands | ~10 | ~4 |
| Denmark | ~15 | ~3 |
| Belgium | ~10 | ~2 |
| Taiwan | ~10 | ~2 |
| Vietnam | ~5 | ~1 |
| Rest of world | ~60 | ~10 |
China leads deployment
China has overtaken all European markets combined for offshore wind capacity, with rapid buildout since 2020. Chinese offshore turbines increasingly larger (18 MW models under development). Government policy targets 100 GW offshore by 2030.
UK: the pioneer
The UK led offshore wind development from Blyth (2000) through the world largest farms at Hornsea. The UK Crown Estate seabed leasing model became a template globally. Recent auctions have added significant pipeline capacity.
The largest farms
| Farm | Country | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Hornsea 2 | UK | 1,320 |
| Hornsea 1 | UK | 1,218 |
| Dogger Bank A | UK | 1,235 (partial) |
| Yangjiang Qingzhou | China | 1,000+ |
| Coastal Virginia Offshore | US | 2,600 (in construction) |
| Windanker | Germany | 315 |
United States: emerging market
US offshore wind was slow to start but has significant pipeline. Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW) came online 2024. Coastal Virginia and others in construction. Federal and state policies target major deployment through 2030. See US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office.
Turbine sizes drive count arithmetic
Modern offshore turbines are 12 to 18 MW. A 1 GW offshore farm needs 60 to 80 turbines. Older farms with 5 to 8 MW turbines needed 125 to 200 turbines for similar output. Turbine size growth is enabling larger farms per site.
Floating offshore wind
Fixed bottom turbines dominate the current fleet. Floating turbines are commercial only in a handful of projects (Hywind Scotland, Kincardine, Windfloat Atlantic). Deep water offshore wind (over 60 metres) depends on floating. Commercial scale floating projects expected 2027 onward.
Growth trajectory
Pipeline
The global offshore wind pipeline exceeds 250 GW in various planning and construction stages. UK Crown Estate has ~15 GW of auctioned pipeline. US has ~50 GW of proposals. Germany, Netherlands, China all have major pipelines. The IEA Renewables 2024 tracks the deployment.
Notable operators
- Orsted (Denmark)
- Vattenfall (Sweden)
- SSE and Equinor (UK and Norway)
- Iberdrola (Spain)
- China State Power Investment Corporation
- RWE (Germany)
- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (Denmark)
Contemporary challenges
Cost trajectory
Offshore wind LCOE has fallen from USD 200+ per MWh in 2010 to USD 60 to 100 per MWh for typical projects today. Costs vary widely by market and project. Recent US and UK auctions have shown some cost pressure as supply chain constraints intensify.
Where the count is going
By 2030, expect 300 to 400 operational offshore wind farms globally with 150 to 200 GW capacity. Growth concentrated in UK, US, China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and continued European deployment. Floating projects will begin to appear at scale.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has most offshore wind?
China by capacity as of 2025. UK by cumulative operational farms.
What is the largest farm?
Hornsea 2 at 1.32 GW operational. Larger projects under construction.
How is offshore wind counted?
Each named project with its own grid connection is typically counted as one farm.
Are floating farms different?
Yes, use different foundations. Small share of current count.
Do turbines still get bigger?
Yes. 18 MW models are commercial; 20+ MW under development.
How many turbines in a modern farm?
50 to 100 typical for GW scale farm.
What limits offshore wind buildout?
Supply chain (turbines, cables, vessels), grid connection, permitting.
Do farms interfere with shipping?
Regulated by maritime authorities. Farms typically sited to avoid main shipping lanes.
What about hurricane areas?
Turbines increasingly designed for hurricane conditions. Site selection considers extreme weather.
Where can I see specific farms?
The UtilityRadar directory lists offshore wind farms.
Summary
Roughly 250 offshore wind farms operate globally with 80 GW of capacity in 2025. China leads by capacity; UK leads by cumulative deployment history. The pipeline exceeds 250 GW globally, with US, Taiwan, and Vietnam among emerging markets. Turbine size growth means capacity grows faster than farm count. By 2030, expect 150 to 200 GW operational, roughly doubling current capacity.
Next reading
- How wind turbines work
- 15 largest offshore wind farms
- Renewable energy complete guide
- Browse the UtilityRadar directory
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