🇬🇧25 Years of UK Offshore Wind — A Milestone Worth Celebrating

This year marks 25 years since the UK switched on its very first offshore wind farm at Blyth, off the Northumberland coast — a modest two-turbine pilot that quietly sparked a global renewable revolution.

From that 4MW pioneering project powering 3,000 homes, the UK has built an industry that now leads the world. Today, offshore wind is the nation’s largest source of clean power, generating more than a third of all renewable electricity and setting new records for total energy contribution.

🌬️ A World-Class Industry, Built in Just One Generation

• 2,878 turbines now turning at sea — including 10 floating turbines
• 16.1GW of installed capacity, enough to power 16 million homes
• Preventing the need to burn 20 million tonnes of gas and avoiding over 60 million tonnes of CO₂

💼 An Economic Powerhouse

Offshore wind has reshaped the UK economy:

• Nearly 2,000 companies and 160 factories powering the supply chain
• £18.2 billion expected contribution over the next decade
• 40,000 jobs supported and growing

And the momentum is far from slowing. With 7.5GW under construction and 22GW approved, the next chapter is already in motion.

🚀 Powering the Next 25 Years

As Energy Minister Michael Shanks puts it, offshore wind is “at the heart of our 2030 mission” — reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets while driving innovation and investment into coastal communities.

Industry leaders from RenewableUK, The Crown Estate, and Venterra Group are calling for a steady pipeline of projects to keep the UK at the forefront for the next quarter-century.

Thinking about onsite renewables? We’d love to explore what’s possible for your business. Contact us at hello@gleg.co.uk.