How Does Offshore Wind Energy Work?
Discover how floating turbines capture ocean winds to create clean power and open up future job opportunities.
What’s Going On
Big winds are blowing out at sea—and now we have the tech to use them. Floating offshore wind turbines are giant machines that sit on platforms in the ocean and turn wind into electricity. They can be placed in deeper waters than regular turbines, which means way more space for clean energy. Some experts even think they could one day make enough power to cover all of humanity’s needs.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how floating wind works, why it matters, and how it could shape future jobs for you and your generation.
Cheat Sheet
- Offshore Wind—Wind turbines out in the ocean or big lakes.
- Floating Wind Turbine—A turbine on a floating platform, anchored to the seafloor.
- Buoyancy—The upward force that helps things float.
- Ballast—Extra weight (like water or stone) added to keep things stable.
- Capacity Factor —A way to measure how much energy a turbine actually produces compared with its maximum capacity.
- Mooring Lines—Big cables or chains that hold the floating turbine in place.
Talk It Out: How Does Offshore Wind Energy Work?
- Why are floating turbines such a big deal compared with normal offshore wind turbines?
- What makes floating turbines so expensive and challenging to build?
- How might offshore wind energy create future jobs for people your age?
- This video uses humor and visuals (like floating bottles) to explain science. Did that make it easier for you to understand? Why or why not?
- What are some trade-offs of building floating wind farms—environmental, economic or social? How should communities decide if it’s worth it?
Media Literacy Challenge
Some political leaders have raised concerns about wind energy. They sometimes share claims such as “it’s too expensive,” “it harms wildlife” or “it changes the view of the landscape.” But it’s worth noting that other energy sources—like coal mining or oil drilling—also change the environment in visible ways.
Your challenge:
- Why might an elected official—such as a governor, senator, or even a president—focus mainly on the negatives of renewable energy?
- Pick one claim about wind energy and check if it’s true, false or misleading.
- Show how you fact-checked it—what trusted sources did you use (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, the International Energy Agency, fact-checking sites, etc.)?
Extension Activity: Your Turn to Decide
Find one offshore wind project in the U.S. or another country. Answer these questions:
- Where is it located?
- How many jobs could it create, and what kinds?
- Why might people in that area support or oppose it?
Then create a short op-ed, infographic or video script that takes a clear position. Your piece could be titled:
- “Why We Should Care About Offshore Wind” or
- “Why We Should Question Offshore Wind.”
Make sure to back up your stance with evidence from your research.
Lesson Plans on Climate Change
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
Andy Kratochvil is a proud member of the AFT Share My Lesson team, where he’s passionate about discovering and sharing top-tier content with educators across the country. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and French from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed... See More
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