Offshore & Onshore Wind Dynamics
Turbine scaling, wake effects, and maritime installation logistics.
The Physics of Turbine Scaling
Wind power generation is governed by the cube of the wind speed and the swept area of the rotor. This fundamental physics relationship has driven the industry toward massively scaled turbines. Offshore turbines now exceed 15 MW capacities with rotor diameters over 230 meters. This scaling increases capacity factors and reduces LCOE by amortizing fixed balance-of-plant costs over more megawatts.
Offshore Logistics
While onshore wind is mature, offshore wind faces acute supply chain bottlenecks, particularly concerning specialized installation vessels (WTIVs) and high-voltage export cables. Inflation in steel prices and rising interest rates have caused significant turbulence in recent offshore wind PPAs.
| Environment | Avg Capacity Factor | Turbine Size (Typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Onshore | 35% - 45% | 3 - 5 MW |
| Offshore (Fixed) | 45% - 55% | 12 - 15 MW |
| Offshore (Floating) | >50% | 15+ MW (Emerging) |
Interactive: Turbine Power Curve Estimator
Adjust the parameters below to run the model based on current baseline data.