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UK wind at a delivery crossroads

Published in: Wind, Exclusive Articles, Country Focus

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The UK has been one of the defining wind markets in the world for more than two decades. From early onshore build-out across Scotland and Wales to the rise of giants such as Dogger Bank, Hornsea and Seagreen in the North Sea, wind has moved from challenger technology to the largest single source of UK electricity.

In 2025, wind remained the largest single source of electricity for the second consecutive year at 29.7% of total generation, ahead of gas at 26.8%.1

Having proven the technology and built a leading market position, UK wind is now entering a delivery phase defined by speed, coordination and execution. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out clear targets: 43 to 50 GW of offshore wind and 27 to 29 GW of onshore wind by 2030. The challenge now is delivery.2

A market returning to confidence

The mood in 2026 is meaningfully different to where it was 18 months ago. AR5 in 2023 produced no offshore wind bids. AR6 cleared, but barely. The cancellation of Ørsted’s 2.4 GW Hornsea 4 in May 2025 confirmed what developers had been saying privately: the previous round had not solved the economics.7

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