Free as the wind

Since the beginning of human life on planet Earth, wind is reckoned as one of the largest sources of energy. Sail ships and windmills for centuries allowed exploration of the continents and gave free power to communities all over the world.
Now there is a renaissance in the “wind power race” and this is particularly true for the strong winds that blow over the oceans and seas. Their steady flow is the most fit for giving power to huge and efficient wind turbines and Europe is particularly active in this race. Since 2002, when Europe’s first business-scale wind farm came online in Denmark, the continent’s installed offshore wind capacity has grown from approximately 250 MW to around 12,600 MW. The trend is to increase the share of offshore wind farms because of big advantages on the efficiency and economies of the plants.