The UK has laid “strong foundations” for the future of offshore wind power, according to The Crown Estate.

It is 25 years since the first offshore wind turbines were installed. The UK’s offshore wind sector is now focused on unlocking future growth through pioneering innovations and investment to address new and emerging challenges, according to The Crown Estate’s latest UK Offshore Wind Report.

Since the UK’s first offshore wind turbine was commissioned in 2000, it says a “world-class” sector has emerged which is making a vital contribution to the UK’s clean energy transition. 

It says offshore wind is now the UK’s biggest source of renewable energy, generating 49.2 TWh of electricity in 2024, and was capable of powering 52% of UK homes last year.

It also has a growing workforce of over 32,000, which is predicted reach up to 100,000 by 20301, supporting a 95GW pipeline of fixed and floating offshore wind.

Continuing to keep the UK’s sector at the forefront of offshore wind globally, within a complex energy system, an increasingly busy seabed and against a backdrop of ongoing global volatility disrupting energy markets and supply chains, presents new challenges. 

These include de-risking development; creating a stable, opportune market space; tackling systems issues and grid connectivity; balancing demand upon the seabed alongside nature and the many other users of this space; planning and consenting challenges; and growing a skilled workforce and robust supply chain. 

Gus Jaspert, managing director, marine at The Crown Estate, said: “In just 25 short years, the UK offshore wind sector has grown from a few turbines to a renewable energy powerhouse, capable of supplying clean electricity for more than half of UK homes. 

“The ambition and vision of the last 25 years which led to this achievement is shared by everyone in the industry today as we look to the future. Whilst we are operating in the face of difficult challenges, including global volatility impacting energy markets and supply chains, the sector is stepping up to innovate, collaborate and invest to lay the foundations for strong future growth.

“We are excited to be working alongside all those involved to write the next chapter of the UK’s successful offshore wind story and build a thriving marine environment for generations to come.”

The report highlights some of the innovations and programmes launched in 2024 to address the sector’s challenges and boost expansion. Initiatives include:

• The Marine Delivery Routemap - The Crown Estate shared plans to develop the routemap, a collaborative initiative with partners and stakeholders to develop a long-term delivery plan to support growing demands on the seabed. 
• Details of how the next 20-30GW of offshore wind capacity can be brought to market by the end of this decade were outlined in The Future of Offshore Wind report on behalf of the Great British Energy: The Crown Estate partnership.
• The UK Government’s launch of Great British Energy, and the formation of Great British Energy: The Crown Estate, a strategic partnership to accelerate the energy transition. 
• The publication of the Industrial Growth Plan which sets out how to triple offshore wind manufacturing capacity over the next ten years, creating an additional 10,000 jobs a year and boosting the UK economy by £25bn.
• The launch of The Crown Estate’s £50m Supply Chain Accelerator fund to help catalyse the UK supply chain capacity and capability for offshore wind.

Click here to read the full report.