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Offshore wind power

We're leading the world in offshore wind right here
in the UK

Offshore wind power is driving the global green energy transition. By harnessing stronger, more consistent winds at sea, we are able to generate clean, secure, low-cost offshore wind energy more reliably. 

Image of rotating offshore wind turbines on a sunny day

From the world’s first to the world’s biggest

Ørsted is a global leader in offshore wind energy . Since pioneering the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1991, we’ve built more wind farms at sea than any other company worldwide.

With more than 10.21 GW of offshore wind installed globally, we’ve broken our own records for the largest wind farm in the world several times over.

Hornsea 2, our project approximately 90 km off the coast of Yorkshire, is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s “highest-capacity offshore wind farm” with 1.3 GW – enough to power 1.4 million UK homes.

We’re currently building Hornsea 3, our third record-breaking, gigawatt scale project in British waters. Hornsea 3, which will have a capacity of 2.9 GW, will generate enough low-cost, offshore renewable energy to power more than 3.3 million UK homes. 

We have 10.21 GW of offshore wind installed across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region and another 8.1 GW2 under construction.

How do offshore wind turbines work?


A simple scientific principle combined with cutting-edge technology captures the natural power of the wind to power our homes and businesses.

Using the principle of electromagnetism, electrical energy is generated by rotating magnets inside a coil of conductive wire. In a wind turbine, that rotation is achieved with the power of the wind.

How do offshore wind turbines work
  • The wind turns the blades of the turbine which are connected to a rotor. 
  • The rotor spins a shaft inside the nacelle, which is connected to a generator. The movement of the shaft inside the generator creates electricity.
  • The electricity generated is transmitted through cables within the turbine structure, down to the seabed, and then to shore through underwater cables.
How does the inside of a turbine work
One offshore wind turbine rotation generates enough electricity to power a UK home for 24 hours. But in order to truly tackle climate change, we need scale. That’s why wind turbines are grouped together to form a wind farm. 
This video explains how offshore wind farms work

Technical innovation 

Image comparing the size and scale of Vindeby Offshore wind farm and Hornsea 2 Offshore Wind Farm
Offshore wind power used to be very expensive to construct and operate.  But innovation, industry maturation, and supply chain growth have all played a part in driving down the costs of offshore wind energy in the UK to the point where it is now the cheapest technology for generating electricity.

For example. the turbines used on our Hornsea 2 project are almost 18 times as powerful as those used for Vindeby, the world’s first offshore wind farm located off the Danish island of Lolland. 

 
[1] Installed Capacity for the group means renewable capacity accumulated over time for which commercial operation date (COD) has been achieved, and where the group has or has had an ownership share and an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) role in the project, disregarding whether such capacity has subsequently been di-vested, in full or in part. Notwithstanding the foregoing conditions are not fulfilled, renewable capacities from acquisitions are also added to the installed capacity.  

[2] Capacity under Construction for the group means renewable capacity under construction where a final investment decision (FID) has been made and where the group has or has had an ownership share and an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) role in the project, disregarding whether such capacity was originally or has subsequently been divested, in full or in part. 
Orsted Offshore Wind farms

Our offshore wind farms

Learn about our UK offshore wind farms in development, in construction, and those that are operational

Explore our offshore wind farms