It will include leading developers, investors and manufacturers, alongside technical experts and intergovernmental organisations.
Alastair Dutton, who played a key role in establishing the UK’s offshore wind industry during stints at the Crown Estate and in the department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS), will chair the taskforce.
Meanwhile, Henrik Stiesdal, creator of the first large-scale offshore wind project, will serve as GWEC’s global offshore wind ambassador.
He said: "Offshore wind has huge potential in many regions as the world looks for competitive, zero-carbon energy sources that can be deployed at scale and in relatively fast time frames.
"However, the industry needs to find the most appropriate technologies for deploying offshore wind in different conditions – for example, floating offshore wind in regions with deep water levels, and creating efficient supply chains across the globe."
The taskforce intends to:
- Advise governments on regulatory frameworks and tendering systems for offshore wind;
- Measure and highlight the economic and social benefits of offshore wind and the deployment of local supply chains;
- Foster technological innovation and the testing of new turbines, installation techniques and operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies, including promoting the benefits of digitalisation;
- Spread best practices and transfer knowledge from Europe and other established markets to new and developing markets;
- Create appropriate forums to promote the growth of the global offshore wind industry, from seminars and technical workshops to conferences and exhibitions.
Ben Backwell, who became GWEC's CEO in June, added: "Offshore wind has already become a mainstream power source in Europe, accounting for the lion’s share of new power capacity in the UK and a significant share in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.
"Now more countries are starting to see the advantage of offshore wind, and the technology is in a position to become truly global."
The global offshore wind market is set to grow at an annual compound rate of 16% between 2017 and 2030, reaching a cumulative capacity of 115GW by the end of the next decade, .
China is expected to overtake the UK as world leader and to lead installations by 2022, while newcomers Taiwan and the US will also install 1GW per year in the next decade.
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