The UK is set to lead a watershed year for the construction of steel offshore wind turbine jackets, according to Rystad Energy.
The energy research and data firm predicts 2020 will see all of 258 turbines to be installed this year use a jacket foundation.
Rystad claim the number is the “most ever in a single year” and represents about 20% of all offshore turbines to be commissioned globally.
ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia One project accounts for 102 turbines using jacket foundations.
The jackets on the development are being manufactured by Navantia (42), Lamprell (36) and Harland & Wolff (24), and will be installed by Van Oord.
Another UK project, the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm, will use 100 jacket foundations and is due to become operational in late 2021.
Rystad’s data shows that at least 479 more offshore turbines with jacket foundations will start-up across Europe between 2021 and 2025.
The firm said its global estimate for that period is that at least 1,083 jacketed turbines will be installed globally over that period.
Alexander Flotre, Rystad Energy’s vice president and product manager for offshore wind, said: “The higher share of jacket foundations follows the trend of offshore wind farms being placed in deeper waters in more mature regions.
“As shallow-water areas get more populated, countries that look to increase their offshore wind capacity must look to deeper waters.
“While the market for monopile manufacturing has been dominated by specialized players such as Sif Group and EEW, the jacket market is much more open to the general steel construction manufacturers whose business has historically centred on offshore oil and gas projects or other industries.”
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