UK gives the greenlight to three major offshore wind projects
The UK government has announced that three major offshore wind projects have been given approval. Consent has been given by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for Dogger Bank South East and Dogger Bank South West off the northeast coast of England, alongside the North Falls offshore wind farm off the coast of Suffolk[i]. Together the projects will add up to 4 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind capacity, enough to power more than four million homes a year, and equivalent to roughly a quarter of the UK’s existing offshore wind fleet.
Dogger Bank South East and South West are being developed by RWE and Masdar, and will deliver a combined 3GW of capacity, whilst North Falls, which is led by RWE and SSE Renewables, will add up to 1GW. As of April 2025, the UK’s operational offshore wind capacity stood at approximately 16GW in total.
OEUK warns that UK energy targets are at risk, as wind growth slows
Meanwhile, new data from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has drawn attention to the challenge the UK faces in meeting its renewables targets. Their new report, Offshore Wind Insight 2026, warns that while offshore wind remains one of the UK’s biggest success stories, progress is starting to slow at a critical moment.
At the current rate of progress, the UK would reach just over 30GW of offshore wind by 2030, well short of the planned 43GW. The UK needs to deliver at least 5GW of new offshore wind every year if it is to meet the government’s clean power goals, meaning that unless delivery accelerates, the UK risks falling behind its own targets.
Thibaut Cheret, OEUK’s Wind and Renewables Manager said: “To meet its goals, the UK must deliver about 5GW of offshore wind annually; failing to do so puts clean energy targets at risk. Offshore wind’s fast growth is possible due to established expertise in related fields including subsea engineering, marine operations and project management as well as rigorous HSE protocols. If progress slows, the UK risks falling behind globally and losing both projects and their supporting industrial base.”[ii]
The OEUK says the Government should aim to award up to 7GW of offshore wind in the next renewables auction (AR8, set to open in July this year[iii]). This would allow the UK to meet the minimum need of 5GW a year while making sure projects remain affordable compared with electricity prices and other renewable technologies. Secondly, the report warns that new wind farms will not deliver power unless the electricity grid keeps pace. OEUK says all planned grid upgrades must be completed by 2028 to unlock offshore wind projects already in the pipeline. Lastly, the report calls for clearer deadlines, stronger accountability for grid companies, and compensation where projects are delayed. If progress does not improve, OEUK says the Government should be ready to step in and fast‑track delivery.
Summarising, OEUK says offshore wind needs steady, predictable growth, not stop‑start investment. By providing annual auctions delivering at least 5GW a year from 2026 to 2030, supply chains can plan ahead, costs can be kept down, and skilled jobs will be retained in the UK.
References
[i] Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Farms development consent decision announced - GOV.UK
[iii] UK Renewables Auction AR8 Confirmed for July 2026 | Duftons
