The UK and Germany led the way as Europe powered-up a record amount of offshore wind energy last year, it’s emerged.

Countries installed 3.1 gigawatts of new sea-based renewable power, making it the continent’s biggest year ever, according to WindEurope.

The industry body says rapidly falling costs means investing in offshore wind is now more attractive.

The vast majority of new power came from the UK and Germany, but France, Finland and Belgium also connected wind farms to the grid.

Among the UK’s new additions was Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm, situated off the coast near Aberdeen, according to Euronews.

Its turbines, tethered to the seabed, can be moved to deeper waters than conventional wind farms, allowing them to be moved to more productive locations.

WindEurope says despite the hike in new capacity, investments in offshore wind dropped to €7.5 billion in 2017, down from €18.2 billion the year before. Falling costs is said to be one of the reasons for the tumble.