Government needs to demonstrate more ambition for floating wind

Floating wind farms offer potential to sustain coastal communities, while delivering clean, renewable electricity to the grid

British prime minister Boris Johnson visits a windfarm off the Aberdeenshire coast, where five massive 9MW wind turbines are erected on floating foundations and secured in place via a system of moorings and anchors.

In Aberdeen, close to where world leaders, global NGOs, citizens, and media are converging around Cop26, the Kincardine floating windfarm is an eye to behold. Five massive 9MW wind turbines are erected on floating foundations and secured in place via a system of moorings and anchors. Floating wind technology is ready to make a huge impact on climate targets, with up to 10GW expected to be deployed in Europe alone by the end of the decade. Just look at the range of companies bidding for leases in ScotWind, and the multibillion-pound supply chain commitments they are making for Scottish supply chain and jobs.

On Thursday morning, the Crown Estate published plans confirming its ambition to unlock up to 4GW of energy from floating wind in England and Wales, helping to establish a new industrial sector for the UK. The Irish Government needs to similarly grasp the opportunity of floating wind. An unprecedented economic opportunity is currently at stake, and there is a real risk the opportunity will be missed, as industry and investment goes elsewhere.