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Offshore Wind: facilitating deployment

The UK has some of the best wind resources in the world. From a low base, offshore wind power generation in the UK has expanded rapidly. In October 2008, the UK overtook Denmark, becoming the world leader in offshore wind generating capacity.

Despite this success, the Government recognises that in order to deliver the scale of expansion we anticipate will be necessary to meet our share of the EU 2020 renewables target, a great deal of wider work is necessary.

As well as our ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment on a draft plan for up to 25 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind development (in addition to 8GW already planned), the wider work to facilitate the deployment of offshore wind includes work to;

  • introduce a range of measures to improve access to the grid network
  • reform, streamline and improve the planning process
  • help inform potential offshore developers so they can make informed decisions as to where to locate their wind farms in the most appropriate offshore locations. A suite of work is underway on a range of themes including, but not limited to, ecological, environmental, fishing, navigation, landscape and aviation related matters.
  • introduce a number of reforms to the Renewables Obligation financial support mechanism.
  • seize the potential new business development opportunities, including jobs, investment & manufacturing and supply chain work.

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