The UK today marks 25 years since the Blyth offshore wind farm in Northumberland began generating clean power, launching an industry which has become one of the country’s biggest sources of renewable electricity.
The sector said offshore wind provided over 34% of renewable electricity in 2024 and produced a record 17% of total UK power last year.
Michael Shanks, 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.”
Jane Cooper, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK, added: “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.”
Julia Rose, head of offshore wind at The Crown Estate, stated: “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 windfarms in UK waters and a pipeline of 95GW.”
Ed Daniels, chief executive of Venterra Group, 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.”