> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://telf-ag.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TELF AG on Deep-Water Wind and the Emerging Potential of Floating Turbines - URL: https://telf-ag.ghost.io/telf-ag-on-deep-water-wind-and-the-emerging-potential-of-floating-turbines/ - Published: 2026-09-14T07:15:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-14T07:15:19.000Z - Author: Telf AG Wind power has undergone a remarkable geographical expansion over the past few decades. Turbines that were once primarily associated with fields and open countryside are now common sights along coastlines and across offshore areas. The next stage of this evolution could take wind energy even farther out to sea. Floating offshore wind is emerging as a possible solution for harvesting wind resources in deep waters, where traditional offshore turbines cannot easily be installed. A recent analysis by the Financial Times examined the prospects for this technology, focusing on its potential advantages, rapidly expanding project pipeline and the economic barriers that continue to limit its deployment. **Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of** [**TELF AG**](https://telf.ch/telf-ag-on-floating-offshore-wind-and-the-energy-potential-of-deep-waters/?ref=telf-ag.ghost.io)**, examines how floating offshore wind could provide access to vast deep-water wind resources that remain largely beyond the reach of conventional offshore technology.** **Key takeaway: Floating turbines could dramatically expand the areas available for offshore wind generation, but their long-term success will depend on technological development, industrial scale and substantial cost reductions.** **What Makes Floating Offshore Wind Different?** Floating offshore wind differs from conventional offshore technology primarily in the way turbines are supported. Fixed-bottom turbines rely on foundations attached directly to the seabed, making them more suitable for relatively shallow waters. Floating turbines are instead installed on buoyant platforms secured to the seabed through mooring systems. This approach creates several potential advantages: - Deployment in substantially deeper waters - Access to offshore areas previously unsuitable for wind projects - Greater exposure to strong and consistent wind resources - New development opportunities for regions with rapidly deepening coastal waters “**The real significance of floating wind lies in its ability to remove one of offshore wind's main geographical limitations: the depth of the water beneath the turbine,**” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. The technology could therefore make offshore wind possible in locations where traditional foundations would be impractical or prohibitively expensive. **Why Are Developers Looking Toward Deeper Waters?** Deep-water locations can offer particularly attractive conditions for wind generation. Farther from land, winds tend to be stronger and more consistent, creating the possibility of producing electricity for a high number of hours throughout the year. This could give floating offshore wind an important strategic advantage. Rather than relying exclusively on the relatively limited areas where seabed conditions permit fixed installations, developers could potentially explore much larger marine zones. The technological challenge is considerable. Floating platforms and turbines must withstand waves, storms and harsh marine conditions while remaining securely anchored and operational over long periods. ![Offshore wind turbines operating in open waters, illustrating the deep-water energy potential examined by the Financial Times and discussed by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/09/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-floating-wind-offshore-traditional.png) Floating offshore wind could allow developers to access stronger and more consistent winds in deeper waters, a trend examined by the Financial Times and discussed by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. **How Quickly Could Floating Offshore Wind Grow?** Floating wind currently represents only a very small part of the offshore wind sector, but announced projects suggest that its role could increase significantly. Figures cited by the Financial Times illustrate this contrast: - Around **91 GW** of global offshore wind capacity - Floating wind currently represents only about **1%** - Approximately **200 GW** of floating capacity has been announced - Floating projects represent roughly **22%** of the future global offshore pipeline The announced pipeline should not be interpreted as guaranteed future capacity, since projects can be delayed, modified or cancelled. Nevertheless, its scale demonstrates the growing interest surrounding floating technology. “**What stands out is the difference between floating wind's very limited presence today and the scale of the projects being considered for the future. That contrast tells us how rapidly expectations around this technology are evolving,**” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. **Where Could Floating Wind Have the Greatest Impact?** The technology could prove especially relevant in countries and regions where the seabed becomes deep relatively close to shore. Conventional offshore turbines generally work best in areas where foundations can be installed economically on the seabed. In deeper waters, however, these structures become increasingly difficult and expensive to construct. Floating platforms offer an alternative by separating the turbine from the need for a fixed foundation extending all the way to the seabed. This could eventually allow offshore wind development to expand into marine environments that have so far remained largely inaccessible. **Why Are Costs Still a Major Challenge?** Despite its potential, floating offshore wind remains substantially more expensive than conventional offshore technology. Costs are therefore among the most important factors determining how quickly the sector can develop. According to figures highlighted by the Financial Times, floating offshore wind in China can currently cost around two to four times more than traditional offshore wind, even though China is among the world's most cost-competitive markets for offshore development. The additional expense is associated with several components: - Floating platform construction - Mooring and anchoring systems - Specialized subsea cables - Installation and marine operations - Maintenance in remote offshore environments Reducing these costs will likely require larger production volumes, greater standardization, improved infrastructure and more mature supply chains. “**Floating wind does not only face an engineering challenge; it faces an industrial one. The decisive question will be whether the sector can move from individual projects toward standardized, repeatable and increasingly cost-efficient deployment,**” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. **What Role Could Floating Wind Play in the Energy Transition?** Floating offshore wind could eventually complement established renewable technologies by making an additional category of wind resources available to energy systems. ![Wind turbines positioned offshore in a marine environment, representing the expansion of floating wind technology highlighted by the Financial Times and Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/09/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-floating-wind-offshore.png) Offshore wind technology is moving toward deeper marine areas, where floating platforms could expand renewable energy opportunities, according to themes highlighted by the Financial Times and Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. Its strongest advantage is geographical. By moving turbines into deeper waters, developers could gain access to extensive areas characterized by favorable wind conditions that cannot currently be exploited economically with fixed-bottom technology. The next two decades could therefore be decisive. Industrialization, technological learning and economies of scale will need to bring costs down while demonstrating that floating platforms can operate reliably in demanding marine environments. Floating offshore wind remains at an early stage, but the scale of its announced pipeline indicates considerable interest in its future development. If technical progress and industrial expansion succeed in narrowing the cost gap with conventional offshore wind, deep waters could become one of the next major frontiers for global renewable energy generation.