Overview
The Global Offshore Wind Report 2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the sector, examining global market developments, regional trends, and the key markets shaping the future of offshore wind. Expert data, trends and insights.
Offshore wind is uniquely suited to underpin the shift to a modern, electrified world. Built at scale it can deliver high, predictable output that – when combined with storage, interconnection and demand-side response – supports both baseload- like and flexible system needs. It reduces exposure to imported fuels while enabling deep electrification. Offshore wind is not just another renewable energy technology, it is the structural asset that allows an electro-tech economy to exist and thrive.
In 2025, 9.3 GW of new offshore wind capacity was grid-connected worldwide – the third-highest year for new installations in offshore wind history. China led installations for the eighth consecutive year, commissioning 6.6 GW, while Europe commissioned nearly 2 GW across three markets, demonstrating the efficacy of strong political support. The global offshore market grew on average by 10% each year over the past decade, bringing total installations to 92.5 GW, which accounted for 7.1% of total global wind capacity as of the end of 2025.
Yet despite this progress, the industry is not breaking records. Macroeconomic headwinds (inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain constraints and policy uncertainty) have slowed deployment at precisely the moment it needs to accelerate. This report acts as a guide to accelerate the next phase of offshore wind.
GWEC’s Call To Governments
1. Fast-track offshore wind as critical energy infrastructure: Governments must treat offshore wind along with its support infrastructure - grids, storage and ports - as critical national infrastructure and develop long-term anticipatory grid investment plans coordinated with offshore wind auction pipelines.
2. Stronger government-industry partnership: Governments must engage in transparent and honest dialogue with the industry rooted in realistic country-specific context and deliverables so that expectations are grounded in evidence.
3. Counter misinformation and build public trust: Governments, industry and civil society must work together and confront well-funded disinformation campaigns head-on, build cross-party political consensus, and communicate the tangible benefits of offshore wind to communities and households.
4. Deliverable auction frameworks: Governments must shift from short-term procurement focused on lowest nominal price to long-term frameworks designed for deliverability, demand certainty and supply chain confidence.
5. Faster permitting: Governments must accelerate regulatory approvals by streamlining permitting and consenting procedures for offshore wind and co-located storage projects.
6. More offshore wind financing: Governments must treat offshore wind as a critical national investment and allocate more financing along with grid, storage and support infrastructure.
7. Scale and diversify supply chains: Governments must build robust industrial strategies and market arrangements for supply chain development, creating visible long-term pipelines and driving the manufacturing and workforce investments needed to deliver at pace.
8. Industrial electrification. Governments must actively invest in decarbonising their industries and economies as that will enable offshore wind to deliver its full potential as the backbone of the electrified economy.
Key Data
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92.5 GW: With 92.5 GW installed by the end of 2025, the world is within touching distance of the historic milestone of 100 gigawatts in offshore wind installed worldwide.
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102 million homes: The amount of offshore wind installed globally could produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 102 million homes, according to GWEC’s calculation.
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19 markets: were powered with offshore wind energy by the end of 2025: China, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan (China), Denmark, Belgium, France, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, USA, Norway, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain.
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Five largest markets: Accounted for 90.3% of the world’s total offshore wind capacity: China, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and Taiwan (China).
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10.3 MW turbine size: The average turbine size (MW) installed in offshore wind sector in 2025 is 10.3 MW, surpassing the 10 MW milestone for the first time.
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