Is offshore wind power reliable?

Offshore wind is a highly reliable energy source. Wind turbines are able to generate green energy out at sea, even when wind speeds seem low from the shore.

Question:

Is wind power reliable? Do consumers risk power outages if the wind stops blowing?

Fact:

Offshore wind turbines generate power almost all the time – and there will always be a backup option in the grid.

Near constant wind speeds at sea

The wind doesn’t often feel that powerful, does it? But out at sea, and hundreds of feet up in the air, the blades of offshore wind turbines are exposed to much faster and almost constant wind, allowing them to generate electricity even when things seem calm on dry land.

That’s one of the main benefits of situating offshore wind turbines far from the shore – along with drastically minimising any visual impact.

But what if there really is no wind?

Even out at sea, wind speeds do vary, and with them the amount of power wind turbines can produce. That’s why energy grids are supplied by a mixture of different sources, meaning that there’s always something producing power.

At Ørsted, we want to build a world that runs entirely on green energy. We’re sure that offshore wind will play a leading role here. But there will still be the flexibility to use other sources, like onshore wind, sustainable biomass, solar power, and large scale battery storage, to help balance the grid and ensure that the lights can always stay on.

There is enough wind for energy production 91% of the time

Average figures based on data from selected Ørsted offshore wind farms in the North Sea

Can offshore wind and commercial fishing coexist?

We work closely with the fishing industry when planning, building and operating our wind farms, ensuring peaceful coexistence.

What is the carbon footprint of offshore wind?

Emissions from building turbines are vastly outweighed by those saved through generating clean power.