Offshore wind generation in the UK 2010-2023

The United Kingdom generated almost 50 terawatt hours of electricity from offshore wind power plants in 2023, up from 45.1 terawatt hours a year earlier. The UK is one of the leading markets for offshore wind worldwide. In 2023, it ranked only after China in terms of cumulative capacity, reaching 14.7 gigawatts.  

Offshore wind farms in the UK

The United Kingdom is also home to some of the largest wind farms installed worldwide. Of the 10 largest wind farms operating globally, eight were located off the United Kingdom’s coast, with projects Hornsea 1 and 2 leading the ranking. The two wind farms, developed by Orsted, power more than 2.4 million homes in the country and, combined, boast a capacity of 2.7 gigawatts. Currently, Hornsea 3 is under development. The project will be the largest offshore wind farm with a capacity of 2.9 gigawatts. In total, the United Kingdom had 56 wind farms operating as of June 2024.  

UK’s offshore wind targets

The United Kingdom has set an ambitious offshore target for 2030. By that year, the country plans to reach an installed offshore capacity of 50 gigawatts. To achieve that goal, current installations will have to more than triple. In the next years, offshore capacity additions in the United Kingdom are forecast to fluctuate, ranging from 1.1 gigawatts to 4.4 gigawatts annually.