The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has called on governments to speed up offshore wind deployment, urging that projects be prioritised as critical energy infrastructure to strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to energy market volatility.
The appeal comes as global offshore wind capacity approaches the 100 GW milestone. According to GWEC’s 2026 Global Offshore Wind Report, launched on 9 June at the APAC Wind Energy Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, worldwide installed capacity reached 92.5 GW by the end of 2025.
The report shows that 9.3 GW of offshore wind was added and connected to the grid in 2025, marking a 16 % year-on-year increase and the third-highest annual total on record. GWEC expects annual installations to double by 2026, with more than 327 GW of additional capacity forecast by 2035, bringing global totals to around 420 GW.
Despite strong growth momentum, GWEC highlighted ongoing barriers including slow permitting, limited grid capacity, supply chain constraints and inconsistent auction frameworks. Around 25 GW of projects outside China are reportedly approved but still awaiting final investment decisions.
China remained the dominant offshore market, commissioning 6.6 GW in 2025, while Europe added nearly 2 GW across the UK, Germany and France.
To address bottlenecks, GWEC has proposed an eight-point action plan covering faster permitting, stronger grid and port investment, improved auction design and enhanced government-industry coordination.
Rebecca Williams, GWEC Deputy CEO, said offshore wind is a “strategic asset” for delivering large-scale clean and secure power systems.
Offshore wind now represents 7.1 % of global wind capacity, with turbine sizes exceeding 10 MW for the first time in 2025.
Source: Offshorewind.biz
