The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Market

Advancing Offshore Wind

With 34% (13.8GW) of all global capacity and major collaborations with Europe’s largest energy companies, the UK is the leading investment market for offshore wind in Europe. The UK recognises the important role of offshore renewable energy to reach climate and energy targets, and to build a solid supply chain. Last year, Great Britian exported more power to Europe than ever before. 8% (5.5TWh) of the electricity generated by Britain was exported abroad, based on findings by the Imperial College London and Drax. 

The UK and its partners are turning the North Sea into Europe’s largest climate-neutral energy source. The Yorkshire and Humberside region on the East Coast is home to the world’s largest offshore windfarm Hornsea Two, operated by Orsted, with 1.3GW of installed capacity. Equinor built the world’s first commercial floating wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen.

Floating Offshore Wind

The UK is pushing boundaries through innovation by accelerating Floating Offshore Wind. Floating can unlock 80% of the world’s offshore wind generation potential in waters deeper than 60m. The UK is ahead of the curve with the world’s first floating offshore wind farm (Hywind Scotland, 30 MW) and the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm (Kincardine, 48 MW).

Join us at WindEurope Copenhagen, 25-27 April 2023

WindEurope is the largest offshore (and onshore) wind trade fair and will take place in Copenhagen from 25th until 27th April 2023.

The UK Governement will be one of the exhibitors, showcasing:

  • the Floating Offshore Wind ecosystem in the UK and the opportunities for international companies
  • UK businesses, providing leading solutions in Offshore Wind and how they can help companies realise their own sustainable projects
  • Opportunities to collaborate for trading partners in Europe

Meet us at the WindEurope UK Pavilion - Stand C1-B43. We look forward to discussing how your business can tap into opportunities in Offshore Wind.

WindEurope Copenaghen

Our experts at WindEurope

Contact our investment and trade experts in Offshore Wind beforehand to schedule 1-2-1 meetings on-site or virtually. Our international network in the UK and across Europe provides a global reach in over 30 countries. You can find an overview of of experts attending WindEurope here.

 

 
 

Supply Chain

The UK has an experienced and expert supply chain supporting the industry, with particular strengths in wind farm design and surveying, installation and subsea engineering/robotics, supply of array cables, offshore substations, foundations and blades, and offshore asset management, operations and maintenance.

Support for Investors

Investors can take advantage of the UK’s market-leading research and innovation programmes through UKRI, Innovate UK, BEIS (e.g. the Energy Entrepreneur Fund and the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub), the UK's Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Programme and its leading Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

Commercial Opportunities

  • Vast opportunities exist for European investors in the UK supply chain including in towers, foundations and cable manufacturing
  • Front-end engineering services in the design and surveying of projects, array cables, blades, foundations and offshore substations supply and operations and maintenance services
     

 

 

 

 

 

Meet 4 UK Businesses Keeping Offshore Wind Moving

UK businesses are providing leading solutions in the Offshore Wind sector, helping international clients realise sustainable projects.

Blade Bug
Rovco
North Star
North Star – bespoke installation and maintenance vessels. Scarce in the industry and in high demand.
Owns and operates the largest wholly UK-owned fleet engaged in the UK’s offshore industry in the North Sea, providing comprehensive operational experience of the seas around the UK coastline.
ORE Catapult
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult – a world-renowned testing centre for blades, robotics, digital solution/AI and turbines.
The UK is renowned for its industry catapults, and for good reason. The ORE catapult lays a key role in bringing together industry and academia, accelerating the creation, innovation, commercialisation and growth of companies in the offshore renewable energy sector.