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Pick a country to jump straight to its wind story
Each card jumps to that country's flagship installation and — where a full country profile exists — its dedicated page. Prefer to read start to finish? Scroll on.
🇮🇳
India
Full section on this page
Muppandal (~1,500 MW) and Jaisalmer (~1,064 MW) wind parks · Suzlon Energy.
🇨🇳
China
Full country profile →
Gansu Wind Farm — a ~20,000 MW mega-complex, by far the world's largest.
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Dedicated project page →
Hornsea Two — world's largest operational offshore wind farm (1,386 MW), plus five more UK farms in the top 15.
🇺🇸
United States
Full country profile →
Alta Wind Energy Centre (California) and Roscoe Wind Farm (Texas) — two of the largest onshore farms.
🇳🇴
Norway
Full country profile →
Hywind Tampen — the world's largest floating wind farm, operated by Equinor.
🇹🇼
Taiwan
Jump to Greater Changhua
Greater Changhua 1 & 2a — 900 MW offshore, Taiwan Strait.
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Jump to Borssele 1 & 2
Borssele 1 & 2 — 752 MW offshore in the North Sea.
🇹🇭
Thailand
Jump to Nakhon Ratchasima
Southeast Asia's early utility-scale onshore wind deployment.
Prefer installations over countries? Jump straight to the world's 15 largest wind farms, GPS-located ↓
"Wind is solar energy made visible. The sun heats the Earth's surface unevenly — land warms faster than sea, tropics faster than poles. This creates pressure differences. Pressure differences create wind. Every turbine blade turning in the North Sea is responding to the same sun that warms India. It is all one energy, moving through different vessels."
— The Energy Codex · observation without separation · thecodex.expert
Cluster 1 · What is it?
What wind energy is — precisely
Wind energy is the conversion of the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity. Wind exists because the sun heats the Earth's surface unevenly — creating pressure differences that drive air movement. Wind is therefore an indirect form of solar energy, and like solar, it is effectively inexhaustible on any human timescale.
In plain English: Wind is moving air. Moving air has energy — you feel it when wind pushes against you. A wind turbine has blades shaped like aircraft wings. When wind blows, it pushes on the blades and also creates lift (the same force that keeps aeroplanes flying), causing them to spin. The spinning blades turn a shaft, which turns a generator — the same basic device in every power station on Earth — and the generator produces electricity. The turbine stops generating when the wind is too slow (not enough energy) or too fast (safety shutdown to prevent damage).
The physics of wind power: The power available in wind follows the equation P = ½ρAv³ — where ρ is air density, A is the swept area of the blades, and v is wind speed. The cubic relationship with wind speed is crucial: doubling wind speed increases available power eightfold. This is why wind turbines are tall (wind is faster at height), have long blades (larger swept area), and are sited in locations with consistently strong winds.
The Betz limit: Not all wind energy can be captured — if a turbine extracted 100% of the wind's energy, the air behind the turbine would stop moving, blocking the turbine. The theoretical maximum efficiency for any wind turbine is 59.3% of available wind energy — known as the Betz limit (after German physicist Albert Betz, 1919). Modern turbines achieve approximately 45–50% efficiency in ideal conditions.
The Betz limit: Not all wind energy can be captured — if a turbine extracted 100% of the wind's energy, the air behind the turbine would stop moving, blocking the turbine. The theoretical maximum efficiency for any wind turbine is 59.3% of available wind energy — known as the Betz limit (after German physicist Albert Betz, 1919). Modern turbines achieve approximately 45–50% efficiency in ideal conditions.
Source: NREL Wind Research · Betz, A. (1919). "Schraubenpropeller mit geringstem Energieverlust"
Wind power density (W/m²) = ½ρv³. For standard atmosphere (ρ = 1.225 kg/m³ at sea level, 15°C), a 10 m/s wind yields 612.5 W/m². Tip speed ratio (TSR) λ = ωR/v — optimal for 3-blade HAWTs (horizontal-axis wind turbines) is approximately 6–8, balancing aerodynamic efficiency with structural loads. Cp (power coefficient) represents fraction of available wind power captured; maximum theoretical Cp = 16/27 ≈ 0.593 (Betz limit). Modern pitch-regulated variable-speed turbines achieve Cp ≈ 0.45–0.50 near rated wind speed. Cut-in wind speed: ~3–4 m/s. Rated wind speed: ~12–14 m/s. Cut-out wind speed: ~25 m/s (hard cut-out) or hysteresis control with softer shutdown in newer designs. Annual energy production (AEP) is calculated by convolving the turbine power curve with the site's Weibull wind speed distribution.
Source: NREL — Wind Turbine Design · Burton et al., "Wind Energy Handbook" (Wiley, 3rd ed.)
2.1 TWTotal global wind capacity end 2023 (GWEC)
117 GWNew wind installed in 2023 (GWEC)
~7%Share of global electricity (IEA)
11 g CO₂/kWhLifecycle emissions (IPCC AR6)
59.3%Betz limit — theoretical max efficiency
45–50%Modern turbine actual efficiency
Cluster 3 · Types of wind energy
Onshore, offshore, and floating — the three generations
Onshore wind Land-based
Wind farms built on land. The most mature and lowest-cost wind technology. Turbines typically 2–6 MW, 80–160 metres hub height. Requires adequate wind resource (typically 6+ m/s average), sufficient land area, and grid connection.
Largest market: China — approximately 1,131 GW of total wind capacity by end 2023, predominantly onshore. China added 75 GW of wind in 2023 alone.
LCOE: $27–73/MWh (Lazard 2024). Capacity factor: 25–45% depending on site.
Largest market: China — approximately 1,131 GW of total wind capacity by end 2023, predominantly onshore. China added 75 GW of wind in 2023 alone.
LCOE: $27–73/MWh (Lazard 2024). Capacity factor: 25–45% depending on site.
Offshore fixed wind Seabed-mounted
Turbines mounted on foundations fixed to the seabed, typically in water depths up to 60 metres, 5–50 km offshore. Advantages: stronger, more consistent winds offshore; no land use constraints; closer to coastal population centres. Disadvantages: higher construction and maintenance costs.
Largest market: UK — approximately 15 GW offshore capacity. Hornsea Two (1,386 MW) is the world's largest offshore wind farm.
LCOE: $72–140/MWh (Lazard 2024). Capacity factor: 35–55%.
Largest market: UK — approximately 15 GW offshore capacity. Hornsea Two (1,386 MW) is the world's largest offshore wind farm.
LCOE: $72–140/MWh (Lazard 2024). Capacity factor: 35–55%.
Floating offshore wind Deep water
Turbines mounted on floating platforms anchored to the seabed by mooring lines. Enables wind energy in water depths over 60 metres — opening approximately 80% of global offshore wind resources that are inaccessible to fixed foundations.
Current status: Commercial-scale projects beginning. Hywind Tampen (Norway, 88 MW, 2022) is the world's largest floating wind farm. Hywind Scotland (30 MW, 2017) was the first commercial floating wind farm.
LCOE: $150–250/MWh currently — expected to fall significantly with scale.
Current status: Commercial-scale projects beginning. Hywind Tampen (Norway, 88 MW, 2022) is the world's largest floating wind farm. Hywind Scotland (30 MW, 2017) was the first commercial floating wind farm.
LCOE: $150–250/MWh currently — expected to fall significantly with scale.
Small wind and emerging applications
Small wind turbines (under 100 kW) are used for remote off-grid applications — farm electrification, telecom towers, island communities. India has significant small wind deployment in rural areas.
Airborne Wind Energy (AWE): Kite-based or aircraft-based systems that fly at high altitudes (200–800 metres) where winds are stronger and more consistent than at tower height. Companies including Makani (Google X), Kite Power Systems, and SkySails are developing commercial AWE systems. Technology readiness level: early commercial pilots.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs): Blades rotate around a vertical axis — can capture wind from any direction without yawing. Used in urban environments and offshore research, but lower efficiency than HAWTs at utility scale.
Airborne Wind Energy (AWE): Kite-based or aircraft-based systems that fly at high altitudes (200–800 metres) where winds are stronger and more consistent than at tower height. Companies including Makani (Google X), Kite Power Systems, and SkySails are developing commercial AWE systems. Technology readiness level: early commercial pilots.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs): Blades rotate around a vertical axis — can capture wind from any direction without yawing. Used in urban environments and offshore research, but lower efficiency than HAWTs at utility scale.
Cluster 13 · Named instances — major wind farms
The world's 15 largest wind farms — every one located
GPS coordinates from Global Energy Monitor's Global Wind Power Tracker (CC BY 4.0) and WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Capacity figures from operator disclosures and GWEC.
| # | Farm name | Country | GPS | Capacity | Type | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gansu Wind Farm | China | 40.52°N 97.89°E | ~20,000 MW total complex | Onshore | Multiple — state-owned operators · Jiuquan, Gansu province |
| 2 | Muppandal Wind Farm | India | 8.28°N 77.61°E | ~1,500 MW | Onshore | Multiple private operators · Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu |
| 3 | Hornsea Two Built ✓ | UK | 53.90°N 1.60°E | 1,386 MW | Offshore | Ørsted · 165 × Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW turbines · powered 1.4M homes |
| 4 | Hornsea One | UK | 54.02°N 1.82°E | 1,218 MW | Offshore | Ørsted · 174 × Siemens Gamesa 7 MW turbines · North Sea |
| 5 | Dogger Bank A, B, C | UK | 54.69°N 2.09°E | 3,600 MW total (3 phases) | Offshore | SSE Renewables, Equinor, Vårgrønn · GE Vernova Haliade-X 13–14 MW turbines |
| 6 | Walney Extension | UK | 54.04°N 3.59°W | 659 MW | Offshore | Ørsted · 87 turbines (40 × MHI Vestas 8 MW + 47 × Siemens Gamesa 7 MW) |
| 7 | Alta Wind Energy Centre | USA | 34.95°N 118.54°W | 1,547 MW | Onshore | Terra-Gen · Tehachapi Pass, California |
| 8 | Roscoe Wind Farm | USA | 32.44°N 100.60°W | 781.5 MW | Onshore | RWE · Roscoe, Texas · 627 turbines |
| 9 | Hywind Tampen | Norway | 61.22°N 2.09°E | 88 MW | Floating | Equinor · 11 × Siemens Gamesa 8 MW · World's largest floating wind farm |
| 10 | London Array | UK | 51.63°N 1.42°E | 630 MW | Offshore | Ørsted (50%), E.ON, Masdar · 175 × Siemens 3.6 MW · Thames Estuary |
| 11 | Greater Changhua 1 & 2a | Taiwan | 24.18°N 119.79°E | 900 MW | Offshore | Ørsted · 111 × Siemens Gamesa 8 MW · Taiwan Strait |
| 12 | Borssele 1 & 2 | Netherlands | 51.72°N 3.18°E | 752 MW | Offshore | Ørsted (38%), Norges Bank · 94 × Siemens Gamesa 8 MW · North Sea |
| 13 | Sheringham Shoal | UK | 53.05°N 1.10°E | 317 MW | Offshore | Scira Offshore Energy (Equinor + SSE) · 88 × Siemens 3.6 MW · North Sea |
| 14 | Jaisalmer Wind Park | India | 27.07°N 70.90°E | ~1,064 MW (multiple phases) | Onshore | Suzlon Energy · Jaisalmer, Rajasthan · India's largest single wind cluster |
| 15 | Nakhon Ratchasima Wind Farm | Thailand | 15.25°N 101.95°E | 207 MW | Onshore | Gulf Energy · Southeast Asia's early utility-scale wind deployment |
GPS: Global Energy Monitor Wind Power Tracker (CC BY 4.0) · WRI GPPD (CC BY 4.0) · Capacity from operator disclosures and GWEC
Cluster 3 · How it works · Turbine anatomy
Inside a wind turbine — every part named
A modern utility-scale wind turbine is one of the most sophisticated machines humans build. The largest turbines — like the GE Vernova Haliade-X at 14–15 MW — stand over 260 metres tall and have blades spanning 107 metres. Every major component serves a specific engineering purpose.
Blades
Typically 3 blades, 40–107 metres long. Made of fibreglass-reinforced epoxy resin. Shaped like aeroplane wings — curved on one side to generate lift. Pitch-controlled (angle adjustable) to optimise efficiency and enable shutdown.
Hub
The central hub connects the three blades and the main shaft. Houses the pitch control mechanisms. In direct-drive turbines, the hub connects directly to the generator rotor.
Nacelle
The housing at the top of the tower. Contains the gearbox (in geared designs), generator, main shaft, yaw drive, cooling systems, and control electronics. Yaws (rotates) to face the wind using the yaw drive and wind vane data.
Gearbox
In geared turbines: multiplies the blade rotation speed (10–20 rpm) up to generator speed (1,500–1,800 rpm). A significant maintenance item. Many modern large turbines use direct-drive generators (no gearbox) to reduce failure rates — Enercon pioneered this approach.
Generator
Converts rotational energy to electricity. Modern turbines use permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG) or doubly-fed induction generators (DFIG). Variable-speed operation (achieved by power electronics) maximises energy capture across varying wind speeds.
Tower
Tubular steel or concrete tower, 80–160 metres tall. Taller towers access stronger, more consistent winds at height. Wind shear means a turbine at 120m hub height generates significantly more energy than the same turbine at 80m. Tower sections are manufactured in segments and assembled on-site.
Foundation
Onshore: concrete pad, 15–20 metres diameter, 2–3 metres deep. Offshore fixed: monopile (single large steel tube driven into seabed — most common for depths up to 40m), jacket, or gravity base. Floating: semi-submersible, spar-buoy, or tension leg platform — anchored by mooring lines.
Power electronics & control
Converts variable-frequency generator output to grid-frequency AC. Full-converter or partial-converter topology. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems monitor thousands of sensor points, enabling remote operation and predictive maintenance. Modern turbines are essentially software-controlled machines.
Source: GWEC Global Wind Report 2024 · NREL Wind Research · Burton et al., "Wind Energy Handbook" (Wiley)
Cluster 2 · Q9 · India and wind energy
India and wind — four decades of development
India's wind capacity — scale and geography
India's installed wind capacity reached approximately 46 GW by — the fourth-largest wind market globally after China, USA, and Germany.
India's wind resources are concentrated along specific geographic corridors:
Tamil Nadu & Kerala: Muppandal, Kanyakumari — India's most productive onshore wind zone, exploiting the consistent south-west monsoon winds
Rajasthan: Jaisalmer wind park (~1,064 MW) — benefiting from Thar Desert wind patterns
Gujarat: Kutch and Saurashtra coastline — strong coastal winds, proximity to ports
Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka: Growing capacity in the Deccan plateau region
Source: MNRE India 2024 · National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE)
India's wind resources are concentrated along specific geographic corridors:
Tamil Nadu & Kerala: Muppandal, Kanyakumari — India's most productive onshore wind zone, exploiting the consistent south-west monsoon winds
Rajasthan: Jaisalmer wind park (~1,064 MW) — benefiting from Thar Desert wind patterns
Gujarat: Kutch and Saurashtra coastline — strong coastal winds, proximity to ports
Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka: Growing capacity in the Deccan plateau region
Source: MNRE India 2024 · National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE)
India's wind industry — from import to export
India's wind industry began in the early 1990s under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, with initial turbines imported from Denmark and Germany. Today India has a mature domestic manufacturing base:
Suzlon Energy (Pune): India's largest wind turbine manufacturer · 20,000+ MW installed in India · Founded 1995 by Tulsi Tanti · Exports to 17 countries
Siemens Gamesa India: Manufacturing hub at Chennai · Produces blades and towers for India and export
Envision & Windworld: Growing domestic and international operators
India's offshore wind potential: The National Institute of Wind Energy estimates India's offshore wind potential at approximately 70 GW along the coastline. First commercial offshore wind is planned in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu waters. Source: NIWE 2023
Suzlon Energy (Pune): India's largest wind turbine manufacturer · 20,000+ MW installed in India · Founded 1995 by Tulsi Tanti · Exports to 17 countries
Siemens Gamesa India: Manufacturing hub at Chennai · Produces blades and towers for India and export
Envision & Windworld: Growing domestic and international operators
India's offshore wind potential: The National Institute of Wind Energy estimates India's offshore wind potential at approximately 70 GW along the coastline. First commercial offshore wind is planned in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu waters. Source: NIWE 2023
Data currency note: India's wind capacity additions change quarterly. Verify current figures at mnre.gov.in.
Cluster 7 · The companies
Who built the wind industry — their stories
Ve
Vestas
Denmark · Founded 1945 · Nasdaq Copenhagen
Founded 1945 in Lem, Denmark as a blacksmith workshop making household appliances. Entered wind energy in 1979 with its first turbine. Today the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer by cumulative installed capacity. CEO: Henrik Andersen. ~29,000 employees. Operations in 85 countries. More than 160 GW installed globally. 2023 revenue: €15.8 billion.
Source: Vestas Annual Report 2023
Source: Vestas Annual Report 2023
SG
Siemens Gamesa
Spain/Germany · Founded 2017 (merger) · Siemens Energy subsidiary
Formed 2017 by merger of Siemens Wind Power (founded 1980) and Gamesa (founded 1976 in Spain). CEO: Jochen Eickholt. ~25,000 employees. Manufactures onshore and offshore turbines. The Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD is a 14–15 MW offshore turbine with 236-metre rotor diameter — one of the world's largest. Supplies Hornsea One and Two.
Source: Siemens Gamesa Annual Report 2023
Source: Siemens Gamesa Annual Report 2023
GE
GE Vernova
USA · Spun off from GE 2024 · NYSE listed
GE has made wind turbines since the 1980s. In 2024, GE's energy businesses were spun off as GE Vernova. The Haliade-X, at 14–15 MW, is among the world's most powerful offshore turbines — with a rotor diameter of 220 metres. Each turbine can power approximately 16,000 homes per year. Used at Dogger Bank, UK (the world's largest offshore wind project).
Source: GE Vernova Annual Report 2023
Source: GE Vernova Annual Report 2023
Or
Ørsted
Denmark · Founded 1972 · Nasdaq Copenhagen
Originally Danish Oil and Natural Gas Company (DONG Energy). Transformed entirely to renewable energy starting 2012 under CEO Henrik Poulsen — sold all oil and gas assets by 2017. Renamed Ørsted after physicist Hans Christian Ørsted. World's largest offshore wind developer. Operates Hornsea One, Two, London Array, Borssele, Greater Changhua. CEO: Mads Nipper. Named most sustainable energy company multiple times.
Source: Ørsted Annual Report 2023
Source: Ørsted Annual Report 2023
Su
Suzlon Energy
India · Founded 1995 · NSE/BSE listed
Founded 1995 in Pune by Tulsi Tanti, originally a textile entrepreneur who installed wind turbines to reduce his factory's electricity bills and saw the opportunity. Grew into India's largest wind company. Commissioned 20,000+ MW in India alone. Present in 17 countries. CEO: JP Morgan → currently Girish Tanti (after Tulsi Tanti's passing in 2022). India's national champion in wind energy.
Source: Suzlon Energy Annual Report 2023
Source: Suzlon Energy Annual Report 2023
Eq
Equinor
Norway · Founded 1972 · Oslo Børs / NYSE
Originally Statoil — Norway's national oil company. Rebranded Equinor 2018 as part of energy transition. Pioneer in floating offshore wind: built Hywind Scotland (2017, 30 MW — world's first commercial floating wind farm) and Hywind Tampen (2022, 88 MW — world's largest floating wind farm). CEO: Anders Opedal. ~22,000 employees.
Source: Equinor Annual Report 2023
Source: Equinor Annual Report 2023
Cluster 4 · Q15 · The pioneers
The people who created wind energy
Charles Brush · 1849–1929 · First automatic wind turbine
In 1888, American inventor Charles Brush built the world's first automatically operating wind turbine in his Cleveland, Ohio backyard — GPS approximately 41.50°N 81.69°W. The turbine was 18 metres tall, had 144 rotor blades spanning 17 metres, and generated 12 kW of electricity to charge batteries in his basement. It operated for 20 years. Brush used the electricity for lighting and to power his laboratory. Though primitive by modern standards, Brush proved that wind could generate usable electricity automatically — without human intervention. Source: IEEE History Centre
Poul la Cour · 1846–1908 · Danish wind pioneer
Danish scientist Poul la Cour built the first aerodynamically designed wind turbines in the 1890s at Askov Folk High School, Denmark. While Brush's turbine had many blades (like a water-pumping windmill), la Cour discovered through systematic testing that fewer, faster blades — shaped to generate lift — were more efficient for electricity generation. He established the world's first wind turbine test facility in 1891 and trained the first generation of wind technicians. La Cour is considered the father of modern wind energy. Source: Technical University of Denmark archives
Albert Betz · 1885–1968 · Established the limits
In 1919, German physicist Albert Betz proved mathematically that no wind turbine can capture more than 59.3% of the kinetic energy in wind — now called the Betz limit. This theoretical maximum fundamentally defines the physics of all wind energy. His derivation, published in the journal "Zeitschrift für das gesamte Turbinenwesen," remains a cornerstone of wind turbine design a century later. Understanding what is not achievable is as important as knowing what is — Betz's work set realistic expectations for a technology still decades from commercial reality. Source: Betz, A. (1919). "Schraubenpropeller mit geringstem Energieverlust"
Tulsi Tanti · 1957–2022 · Built India's wind industry
Tulsi Tanti founded Suzlon Energy in 1995 — not as a wind company, but because his textile business in Pune was crippled by unreliable and expensive electricity. He installed two wind turbines to supply his factory, realised the opportunity, and sold the textile business to focus on wind. He built Suzlon into India's largest wind company and one of the world's top five wind turbine manufacturers. He spent his final years advocating for India's energy transition and died in . He created tens of thousands of jobs and installed over 20,000 MW of wind energy in India. Source: Suzlon Energy
Cluster 5 · What wind energy has given the world
What this energy has built
Denmark — powered almost entirely by wind
Denmark generated approximately 55% of its electricity from wind in 2023 — the highest wind share of any country. On some days, Danish wind production exceeds 100% of national demand, with surplus exported to Norway, Sweden, and Germany. This achievement — built over 40 years of consistent government policy and industrial commitment — demonstrated that a modern economy can run on predominantly variable renewable energy. Denmark's wind industry directly employs approximately 33,000 people. Source: Energinet — Danish transmission operator
UK — North Sea transformed
The UK has approximately 15 GW of offshore wind capacity — the second largest in the world. In 2023, wind generated approximately 29% of UK electricity. The North Sea, once an oil and gas province, is now also a wind energy province — the same maritime industrial base (ports, vessels, engineers) that served oil and gas now serves offshore wind. The UK offshore wind sector employs approximately 26,000 people directly. Source: RenewableUK
India — energy independence from the wind belt
Tamil Nadu's wind belt — particularly Muppandal and Kanyakumari — has supplied reliable electricity to one of India's most industrialised states since the 1990s. Wind energy has reduced Tamil Nadu's dependence on coal imports and provided relatively cheap electricity to the state's textile, automotive, and industrial sectors. Suzlon's growth from a Pune textile company to a global wind manufacturer created one of India's most successful clean energy enterprises. Source: MNRE India
Cluster 5 · Economics · LCOE
The cost of wind electricity — what the data shows
Onshore wind — now competitive with gas
LCOE (Lazard 2024): $27–73/MWh
IRENA global average 2023: $0.033/kWh ($33/MWh)
Capacity factor: 25–45% depending on site quality
Typical project life: 25–30 years
CapEx range: $900–1,400/kW installed
Onshore wind is now cheaper than new gas in most markets, and cheaper than operating costs of existing coal in the best wind locations. The cost has fallen approximately 70% since 2010.
IRENA global average 2023: $0.033/kWh ($33/MWh)
Capacity factor: 25–45% depending on site quality
Typical project life: 25–30 years
CapEx range: $900–1,400/kW installed
Onshore wind is now cheaper than new gas in most markets, and cheaper than operating costs of existing coal in the best wind locations. The cost has fallen approximately 70% since 2010.
Source: Lazard LCOE 2024 · IRENA 2023
Offshore wind — falling but still premium
LCOE (Lazard 2024): $72–140/MWh (fixed)
Floating offshore: $150–250/MWh currently
Capacity factor: 35–55% — higher and more consistent than onshore
CapEx range: $2,500–4,500/kW installed (2023)
Offshore wind costs have risen since 2020 due to supply chain pressures and inflation — after falling steadily for a decade. UK CfD auctions in 2023 saw no bids for new offshore wind as costs exceeded auction prices. New project pipelines are recovering as supply chains stabilise in 2024–2025.
Floating offshore: $150–250/MWh currently
Capacity factor: 35–55% — higher and more consistent than onshore
CapEx range: $2,500–4,500/kW installed (2023)
Offshore wind costs have risen since 2020 due to supply chain pressures and inflation — after falling steadily for a decade. UK CfD auctions in 2023 saw no bids for new offshore wind as costs exceeded auction prices. New project pipelines are recovering as supply chains stabilise in 2024–2025.
Cluster 11 · The future of wind
What institutional sources project
The turbine size race — bigger to drive down cost
The average offshore wind turbine capacity has grown from 2 MW (2000) to 7–8 MW (2020) to 14–15 MW (2024). The physics is compelling: doubling blade length quadruples swept area, quadrupling potential energy capture. Larger turbines also mean fewer foundations, fewer cables, and fewer maintenance visits per MW — all reducing cost. CSSC Haizhuang (China) has announced a 26 MW turbine concept. The physics limit to turbine size is structural — the square-cube law means blade mass grows faster than power output as turbines scale. Source: GWEC 2024
Floating offshore — the biggest frontier
Approximately 80% of global offshore wind resources are in waters too deep for fixed foundations. Floating wind unlocks Japan, California, Norway's deep fjords, India's western coast, and most of the Mediterranean. From 0.1 GW today, GWEC projects floating wind reaching 250 GW by 2035 in a high-growth scenario. The key challenge is cost — currently 2–3× the cost of fixed offshore. As supply chains mature and technology is standardised, cost reduction of 50–60% is projected by 2030. Source: GWEC Global Wind Report 2024
Cluster 12 · Reader questions
Six questions people actually ask — answered
How does a wind turbine work?
Wind pushes on the turbine blades, which are shaped like aeroplane wings. The wind creates both drag (direct push) and lift (the force that keeps planes flying) on the blades, causing them to rotate. The spinning blades turn a shaft, which turns a generator that produces electricity. Most turbines begin generating at around 3–4 metres per second wind speed (a gentle breeze) and reach full power at around 12–14 m/s (a strong breeze). They shut down automatically above 25 m/s to prevent damage. No burning, no moving parts other than the rotor and generator.
Source: NREL — National Renewable Energy Laboratory · nrel.gov/wind
Which country produces the most wind energy?
China is by far the world's largest wind energy market. China had approximately 1,131 GW of total wind capacity by end 2023 — more than the rest of the world combined. China added approximately 75 GW of new wind capacity in 2023 alone. The USA is second with approximately 150 GW. Germany is third in Europe with approximately 69 GW. India is fourth globally with approximately 46 GW (). Denmark generates the highest proportion of its electricity from wind — approximately 55% in 2023 — though its absolute capacity is much smaller. Source: GWEC Global Wind Report 2024 · MNRE India 2024.
Source: GWEC Global Wind Report 2024 · MNRE Government of India 2024
What is the world's largest offshore wind farm?
As of , the world's largest operational offshore wind farm is Hornsea Two, located in the North Sea off the Yorkshire coast of England, at GPS 53.9°N 1.6°E. It has an installed capacity of 1,386 MW, using 165 Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW turbines, operated by Ørsted. It powers approximately 1.4 million UK homes. Dogger Bank — a three-phase project 130 km off Yorkshire — is under construction and will total 3,600 MW when complete, making it the world's largest when operational. Source: Ørsted · GEM Wind Power Tracker.
Source: Ørsted · Global Energy Monitor Wind Power Tracker
How much does wind energy cost?
Onshore wind electricity costs $27–73 per MWh to produce (Lazard LCOE Analysis 2024) — cheaper than new gas in most markets and competitive with existing coal in good wind locations. The global average LCOE for new onshore wind was approximately $33/MWh in 2023 (IRENA). Offshore wind costs more: $72–140/MWh for fixed offshore. Floating offshore is higher still at approximately $150–250/MWh currently. Onshore wind costs have fallen approximately 70% since 2010, driven by larger turbines and supply chain maturation. Source: Lazard LCOE 2024 · IRENA 2023.
Source: Lazard LCOE Analysis 2024 · IRENA Renewable Power Generation Costs 2023
How much wind energy does India have?
India's installed wind capacity reached approximately 46 GW by , making it the fourth-largest wind market globally. Wind generates approximately 4–5% of India's electricity. India's best wind resources are in Tamil Nadu (particularly the Muppandal corridor), Rajasthan (Jaisalmer), Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. The government's target is 500 GW of total renewable capacity by 2030, with wind expected to contribute approximately 140–150 GW. India's offshore wind potential is estimated at approximately 70 GW along its coastline. Source: MNRE India 2024 · NIWE 2023.
Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India 2024 · National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) 2023
How tall are wind turbines?
Modern utility-scale onshore wind turbines have hub heights of 80–160 metres — the distance from ground to the centre of the rotor. Adding half the blade length (typically 40–75 metres for onshore), the maximum tip height is typically 120–235 metres. Offshore turbines are larger: the Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD has a tip height exceeding 260 metres, with a 236-metre rotor diameter — each blade is 115 metres long. Taller turbines access stronger, more consistent winds — a turbine at 120m hub height typically generates 20–30% more energy than the same turbine at 80m in the same location, due to wind shear. Source: Siemens Gamesa product documentation · NREL wind resource data.
Source: Siemens Gamesa product documentation · NREL Wind Research
Cluster 10 · Connected pages
Explore further
Complete source register
Every source used on this page
Primary sources — all public, all free to verify
GWECGlobal Wind Energy Council · Global Wind Report 2024 · Capacity statistics by countrygwec.net/global-wind-report-2024
IEARenewables 2024 · World Energy Outlook 2024 · Offshore Wind Outlookiea.org/reports/renewables-2024
IRENARenewable Power Generation Costs 2023 · Wind capacity statistics 2024irena.org/publications
Global Energy MonitorGlobal Wind Power Tracker · GPS, capacity, operator data · CC BY 4.0globalenergymonitor.org/wind-tracker
WRI GPPDGlobal Power Plant Database v1.3.0 · GPS, capacity, fuel type · CC BY 4.0datasets.wri.org/globalpowerplantdatabase
LazardLevelised Cost of Energy Analysis 2024lazard.com/levelized-cost-of-energy
IPCC AR6Sixth Assessment Report · Lifecycle emissions by technology (Chapter 6, Annex II)ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3
NRELNational Renewable Energy Laboratory · Wind turbine design · Betz limit derivationnrel.gov/wind
MNRE IndiaMinistry of New and Renewable Energy · India wind capacity · State-wise datamnre.gov.in
NIWE IndiaNational Institute of Wind Energy · India offshore wind potential · Wind atlasniwe.res.in
VestasAnnual Report 2023 · Installed capacity, operationsir.vestas.com/annual-reports
Siemens GamesaAnnual Report 2023 · Turbine specificationssiemensgamesa.com/investors
ØrstedAnnual Report 2023 · Offshore wind operations · Hornsea dataorsted.com/investors
Suzlon EnergyAnnual Report 2023 · India wind capacity · Tulsi Tanti historysuzlon.com/investors
Energinet DenmarkDanish electricity system data · Wind generation share 2023energinet.dk
Provenance
Attribution, confidence level, and citation
- Author
- The Codex (Let Us Do It For U), Mumbai, India · hello@thecodex.expert
- Entry type · Confidence
- concept · High — Tier-1 sources (IEA, IRENA, IPCC AR6), verified
- Cite as
- "The Energy Codex", https://thecodex.expert/energy/wind/, last updated .