Offshore wind electricity

The UK generates more electricity from offshore wind than any other country. The sector is meeting around 5% of annual UK electricity requirements and this is expected to grow to 10% by 2020.

Explore our interactive map showing the estimated share of UK electricity demand being met by offshore wind, as well as the current output of operational wind farms.

Offshore wind generation map

Our activities

Pre-planning

Pre-planning includes survey work, impact assessment and stakeholder engagement, plus possibly zone appraisal and planning.

Planning

The planning stage of a project is the time between submission of an application for development consent, and the granting of these consents.

Consented

The consented phase of a project commences when a company is awarded all necessary consents to build the wind farm and ends when construction commences.

Construction

Construction of an offshore wind farm is the phase from the start of works until final commissioning, when turbines are brought into their working power-generating mode.

Operational

Once a project is fully constructed and commissioned, it enters its operational phase.

Read on

Offshore wind cost reduction pathways study

We produced a collaborative industry study demonstrating pathways which can reduce the levelised cost of energy related to offshore wind.

Wave and tidal

We also play a central role in facilitating the development of wave and tidal energy.

Learn more

5% Offshore wind now meets around 5% of annual UK electricity requirements and this is expected to grow to 10% by 2020

Operational projects

20.9% On one particularly windy day in early 2015, onshore and offshore wind turbines were producing a record 20.9 per cent of the nation’s energy needs.

Onshore renewables