Could these floating wind farms power the planet?

Winds in the North Atlantic are so powerful they could potentially generate enough energy for the entire world. Floating wind turbines could allow these farms to generate power in much deeper water than traditional wind farms — and three times more energy. Now, we’re one step closer to them becoming reality.

The world’s first floating wind farm just started spinning in Scotland. The Hywind project consists of five floating turbines; each stabilized by three anchors and a 3,800-ton floating substructure. The turbines will generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes throughout the U.K.

But with Hywind's five turbines taking more than 15 years to construct, powering the whole world is still a long way off.