UK marks historic milestone of 25 years of offshore wind

Today (Monday 8th December) marks 25 years since the UK’s first offshore wind farm began to generate clean power. Blyth Offshore Wind Farm, located off the coast of Northumberland, paved the way for a major new industry which is now playing a central role in the UK’s transition to renewable energy. This pioneering four-megawatt wind farm consisted of two turbines and was built a kilometre out to sea at an average depth of eight metres, generating enough power for 3,000 homes.

In a single generation, offshore wind has become the UK’s biggest source of clean power, providing over 34% of all renewable electricity in 2024. Last year, it produced a record 17% of the UK’s electricity overall (48.5 terawatt hours), and the industry now has a generating capacity equivalent to five large nuclear power stations.

The UK currently has 2,878 offshore wind turbines (10 floating, 2,868 fixed) with

a total generating capacity of 16.1 gigawatts (GW), which is enough to power more than 16 million homes each year, and over 600 million fully decorated Christmas trees.

Without the development of the offshore wind sector, the country would have imported and burned more than 20 million additional tonnes of gas over the last 25 years, producing over 60 million tonnes of CO₂.

Nearly 2,000 companies all around the UK are now part of the wind energy supply chain, including 160 factories, which are forecast to contribute £18.2 billion to the UK economy over the next decade. Today the offshore wind industry supports around 40,000 jobs across the country, which is set to grow to 94,000 by 2030.

Looking ahead, there are more than 7.5GW of offshore wind currently under construction, which will be fully operational in the next two years, as well as a further 22GW consented through to 2033.

Reflecting on the milestone, the Minister for Energy in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Michael Shanks MP said:

“Twenty-five years after the first offshore wind turbines began to turn, Britain is once again leading the world in clean homegrown power.  

“Offshore wind is at the heart of our 2030 mission – helping us reduce our dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, lower bills for good, and support 100,000 jobs by 2030.”

RenewableUK’s Deputy CEO Jane Cooper commented:

“The remarkable growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector has brought jobs, investment, energy security, and environmental benefits in equal measure. Over a single generation, the industry has leveraged the country’s shallow seas and strong winds to transform offshore wind from a nascent technology into the backbone of our future energy system, with the UK firmly establishing itself as a global leader in the process.”

“We have ambitious offshore wind targets to deliver by 2030, beginning with next month’s clean power auction, where a record amount of offshore wind capacity could be brought forward by the Government. We need to keep pressing ahead with new developments because a consistent pipeline of offshore projects is vital to trigger new investment in factories and supply chain companies, in turn creating more jobs in communities across the country.”

Julia Rose, Head of Offshore Wind at The Crown Estate, said:

“25 years of success highlights the transformative power of collaboration and strategic vision, creating an environment in the UK where investment and innovation have thrived. We now have 45 operational windfarms in UK waters and a pipeline of 95GW. Looking beyond, The Crown Estate has also set out its approach to bring the next 20-30GW of leasing opportunity to market by 2030.

“As we look ahead to 2050, our focus will be on providing the forward visibility the market needs, working in partnership with Government and industry to bring forward leasing rounds and deliver the many benefits offshore wind brings – namely economic growth, clean energy and energy security. The UK got the first 25 years right - now it's about making sure we deliver the next chapter with the same confidence and ambition."

Ed Daniels, CEO of Venterra Group, added:

"Offshore wind’s success over the past 25 years has been driven by a world-class UK supply chain, creating tens of thousands of skilled jobs, rejuvenating coastal communities and advancing innovation in regions like the North East. Today, UK companies including Venterra are exporting expertise worldwide, reinforcing the country’s leadership in clean energy. Continued investment in this supply chain is vital to deliver economic growth, energy security, and build a strong local pipeline of talent that will define the next 25 years and beyond."