Last month marked 25 years since the UK’s first offshore wind farm began generating clean power. Blyth Offshore Wind Farm, located off the coast of Northumberland, paved the way for a major new industry that now plays a central role in the UK’s transition to renewable energy. The pioneering 4MW facility consisted of two turbines built 1km out at sea at an average depth of 8m, producing enough electricity for 3,000 homes.
In the space of a generation, offshore wind has become the UK’s largest source of clean power, providing more than 34% of all renewable electricity in 2024. Last year, it delivered a record 17% of the UK’s total electricity output — 48.5 terawatt hours — with a generating capacity equivalent to five large nuclear power stations.
The UK currently operates 2,878 offshore wind turbines — 10 floating and 2,868 fixed — with a combined capacity of 16.1GWh, enough to power over 16 million homes annually. Without this development, the country would have imported and burned more than 20 million additional tonnes of gas over the past 25 years, producing over 60 million tonnes of CO
2.
Nearly 2,000 companies across the UK now form part of the wind energy supply chain, including 160 factories, forecast to contribute £18.2 billion to the economy over the next decade. The industry currently supports around 40,000 jobs, a figure expected to rise to 94,000 by 2030. More than 7.5GWh of offshore wind is under construction and due to become operational within two years, with a further 22GWh consented through to 2033.
Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.”
A global leaderJane Cooper, deputy CEO of
RenewableUK, said: “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, added: “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 wind farms 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 the 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 is about making sure we deliver the next chapter with the same confidence and ambition.”
Ed Daniels, the
Venterra Group’s CEO, said: “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.”