Sand beach among rocks on evening sunset. Ursa Beach near Cape Roca (Cabo da Roca) at Atlantic Ocean coast in Portugal. Summer landscape.
The UK government has launched a new initiative designed to accelerate the growth of the offshore wind sector while simultaneously protecting the country’s marine ecosystems. The Marine Recovery Fund, as reported by Defra, aims to unlock up to 19 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity—an amount of electricity sufficient to power two cities the size of London.
Under the new scheme, offshore wind developers will be able to pay into a centralized, government-operated pot. This funding will be used to deliver large-scale environmental compensatory measures, shifting away from the previous system where environmental impacts were managed on a project-by-project basis. According to a government blog post, the fund is intended to provide solutions that “adequately compensate for the impacts of offshore wind” by balancing energy development with environmental protection.
Marine Minister Emma Hardy stated that the fund is a “major reform” within the government’s Clean Power Action Plan. She emphasized that the move underlines a commitment to making Britain a “clean energy superpower” while ensuring the security of the nation’s energy supply and creating new jobs. The Minister further noted that driving nature recovery is “not a trade-off against clean energy, but a condition of delivery.”
The fund is expected to streamline the often lengthy planning and consenting process for new wind farms. By providing pre-approved environmental measures, the government hopes to reduce the administrative burden on developers and offer them greater investment certainty. Projects that would previously have faced delays due to complex environmental negotiations may now see faster progress.
Future interventions funded by the scheme are set to include the designation of new Marine Protected Areas and practical measures to support wildlife. These may include controlling invasive species on islands to protect seabird colonies and the construction of artificial nesting structures for species such as kittiwakes.
Industry bodies have welcomed the announcement. RenewableUK has previously highlighted that the fund allows for more coordinated conservation efforts that are only possible with government leadership. While the fund will operate in England and Wales, the Scottish Government is expected to manage a separate fund tailored to its own environmental priorities and planning frameworks.
Environmental groups have also acknowledged the importance of the strategic approach. The RSPB has noted that with many seabird species in decline, it is essential that the expansion of renewable energy and the restoration of nature “go hand-in-hand.”
The government has confirmed that the fund will be cost-neutral to the taxpayer, as it is entirely financed by contributions from the offshore wind industry. A formal review of the fund’s effectiveness is scheduled to take place by 2032.