The Crown Estate has launched its latest annual Offshore Wind Report, which sets out the headlines and highlights from 2024, and explores how the offshore wind sector is gearing up to maximise its role in supporting the UK’s ambition to deliver clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2050, as well as creating energy security, new jobs and economic opportunity.

Offshore wind is now the UK’s biggest source of renewable energy, generating 49.2 TWh of electricity in 2024, and was capable of powering 52% of UK homes in 2024. It also has a growing workforce of over 32,000, which is predicted reach up to 100,000 by 20301, supporting a 95GW pipeline of fixed and floating offshore wind.

The Crown Estate report examines the challenges presented in attempting to keep the UK at the forefront of offshore wind development. These include de-risking development; creating a stable, opportune market space; tackling systems issues and grid connectivity; balancing demand upon the seabed alongside nature and the many other users of this space; planning and consenting challenges; and growing a skilled workforce and robust supply chain.

The report highlights some of the pioneering innovations and programmes launched in 2024 to address these challenges, including:

• The Marine Delivery Routemap– The Crown Estate shared plans to develop a Marine Delivery Routemap – a collaborative initiative with partners and stakeholders to develop a long-term delivery plan to support growing demands on the seabed.
• Details of how the next 20-30GW of offshore wind capacity can be brought to marketby the end of this decade were outlined in The Future of Offshore Wind report on behalf of the Great British Energy: The Crown Estate partnership.
• The UK Government’s launch of Great British Energy, and the formation of Great British Energy: The Crown Estate,a strategic partnership to accelerate the energy transition.
• The publication of the Industrial Growth Planwhich sets out how to triple offshore wind manufacturing capacity over the next ten years, creating an additional 10,000 jobs a year and boosting the UK economy by £25 billion.
• The launch of The Crown Estate’s £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator fundto help catalyse the UK supply chain capacity and capability for offshore wind.

Gus Jaspert CMG, Managing Director, Marine, The Crown Estate, said: “In just 25 short years, the UK offshore wind sector has grown from a few turbines to a renewable energy powerhouse, capable of supplying clean electricity for more than half of UK homes.

“The ambition and vision of the last 25 years which led to this achievement is shared by everyone in the industry today as we look to the future. Whilst we are operating in the face of difficult challenges, including global volatility impacting energy markets and supply chains, the sector is stepping up to innovate, collaborate and invest to lay the foundations for strong future growth. We are excited to be working alongside all those involved to write the next chapter of the UK’s successful offshore wind story and build a thriving marine environment for generations to come.”

The report includes a wide range of metrics about the sector including an at-a-glance view of the year in numbers, an overview of operational and in construction offshore wind farms, performance metrics, progress on skills and supply chain development and activity to progress the pipeline of future offshore wind potential.