The statistics were revealed on the first day of RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind V-Fest (virtual festival), which is focusing on the major role that offshore wind is set to play in the green economic recovery worldwide.

RenewableUK’s latest Offshore Wind Project Intelligence report shows that the UK has retained its top spot, dominating the market with a pipeline of 38.9 GW – a quarter of the global total. China has moved up from fourth to second place with 19.3 GW – an increase of 7.3 GW, up 60%.

The US stays in third place, up from 15.7 GW to 17.8 GW, an increase of 13%, while Germany has dropped from second to fourth place as its total of 16.5 GW has remained almost the same over the last 12 months, adding just 68 MW. Taiwan stays fifth with its project pipeline growing by 28% from 8.9 GW to 11.4 GW.

In sixth place, the Netherlands has soared from 6.5 GW last year to 11.3 GW, an increase of 74%. Ireland has witnessed an extraordinary growth from 3.2 GW last year to 8.2 GW this year, rocketing to number seven with an increase of 156%. Poland is eighth with 6.2 GW, Denmark ninth at 4.7 GW and Vietnam is 10th with 3.6 GW.

RenewableUK deputy chief executive Melanie Onn said, “In the current economic crisis, these new figures show that offshore wind is one of the major growth opportunities worldwide.

“In the UK alone, we estimate that next year’s auction for renewable power could secure over £20Bn (US$25Bn) of new investment. Our latest Offshore Wind Project Intelligence report highlights the global potential for offshore wind to drive a green economic recovery.

“It is great to see the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry remains in pole position. Other countries are following our lead and catching up fast, but we remain by far the biggest market for offshore wind in the world.

“This is a global industry and the UK’s offshore wind supply chain has increasing opportunities to sell our goods and expertise overseas, as we take on a new role on the global stage after Brexit.

“We are already exporting to Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, and the value of our offshore wind exports is set to increase fivefold to £2.6Bn by 2030 for UK companies”.

The top five countries represent 65% of the total global pipeline, with 104 GW of capacity between them. Europe has 60% of the pipeline with 96 GW.

In terms of operational capacity, the UK still leads the world with 9.7 GW, Germany is second at 7.5 GW, China third with 3.3 GW, Belgium fourth at 1.8 GW and Denmark fifth with 1.7GW.