Accelerating deployment of the backbone of our future energy system and maximising industrial benefits
Offshore wind
About offshore wind
The first offshore wind farm in the UK was built in 2000, off the coast of Northumberland. The UK is now a global leader in offshore wind with over 15GW of operating capacity, providing over 17% of the UK’s electricity needs. The UK has an ambitious target to deliver 43–50GW of offshore wind by 2030. Currently employing over 30,000 people across the UK, it’s anticipated that there will be over 100,000 people working in the sector by 2030, including in the development and operation of offshore wind farms and supply chain.
15 million
homes powered by offshore wind per year (2024)
over 16GW
of offshore wind currently installed
100,000+
jobs in offshore wind by 2030 – with the right action now
The floating wind opportunity
In 2017, the UK developed the world’s first wind farm on floating foundations off the coast of Scotland. We now have the largest pipeline of potential floating offshore wind projects in the world. We’re working to maximise the UK’s potential to build, assemble and manufacture floating offshore wind farms, giving UK companies a first-mover advantage in domestic and global markets.
Our work in offshore wind
We’re working to retain and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading position in offshore wind – making sure that the UK remains one of the most attractive destinations to invest. We’re constantly pushing for reforms that can accelerate the sector’s growth. We also want to build on the strengths of the UK’s workforce and supply chain, making sure that offshore wind grows consistently and sustainably, in a way that benefits the UK economy and society.
Featured event
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- Working groups
Offshore wind related working groups
RenewableUK runs the following offshore wind-related working groups with its members.
Offshore Consents and Licensing working group
Establishing industry positions for advocacy, policy and lobbying purposes relating to marine planning, consenting, licensing and environmental issues. The group will concentrate primarily on offshore wind and technologies related to offshore wind
Manufacturing working group
Supporting the development and competitiveness of the UK’s domestic manufacturing sector and associated value chains to accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition, whilst benefitting UK businesses and creating jobs.
Offshore working groups
We run the following offshore working groups with our members. Terms of reference can be found below.
- Planning and Environment Strategy Group - driving strategic alignment and coordination across delivery, policy and engagement, particularly around marine planning, with a view to improving the overall efficiency of the planning system and reduce barriers to deployment.
- Late life and decommissioning - establishing industry positions in relation to onshore and offshore wind late-life and decommissioning policies, as well as building on the recommendations in our position paper and supporting establishing RUK positions on onshore late life and decommissioning.
- Ports and maritime - developing and evolving the policies and regulations to enable the development, upgrading and decarbonisation of port infrastructure to make them the building blocks of the UK’s FLOW and CP2030 ambitions.
Delivering the UK's offshore wind ambition
RenewableUK has a team working to support the Offshore Wind Industry Council – a partnership with Government to drive the development of offshore wind in the UK. You can learn more about this work at the OWIC website.