The UK Expands Wind Power As Europe Builds A Shared Clean Energy Grid

The UK continues to accelerate its wind energy ambitions, ranking among the world’s leading markets with 15.7 GW of operational onshore wind capacity and a clear target of 26 GW by 2030. The sector already supports 55,000 jobs, with employment expected to double to 110,000 by the end of the decade.

At the same time, the UK is deepening collaboration with Europe to transform the North Sea into the world’s largest clean energy reservoir. Alongside nine European nations, the UK has committed to rapidly scaling offshore wind through a shared grid of interconnected wind farms linked by high-voltage subsea cables.

The partnership aims to deliver 100 GW of offshore wind capacity, enough to power approximately 143 million homes, with participating countries targeting 5 GW of new capacity annually between 2031 and 2040. The initiative is expected to unlock $1.19 trillion in investment by 2040 and create over 90,000 jobs, while driving down costs through coordinated development.

Momentum is already building in the UK. A recent record-breaking offshore wind auction is set to create 7,000 skilled jobs, attract $30 billion in private investment, and support an 8.4 GW project pipeline capable of supplying electricity to 12 million homes—including both fixed and floating wind technologies.

Together, the UK’s domestic expansion and Europe-wide cooperation position wind energy as a cornerstone of energy security, industrial growth, and long-term decarbonisation across the region.