A third of UK energy to come from offshore wind by 2030, government says

A third of the UK’s energy will come from offshore windfarms by the end of the next decade, the government said today as it signed a new deal with the industry.

Companies will invest £250m to develop the supply chain, and increase global exports to countries including Japan and the US, fivefold under the new plan.

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The announcement comes as the government hopes to make Britain a leader in renewables, and create thousands of jobs.

This will make offshore wind among the biggest contributors as the UK looks to produce 70 per cent of its electricity from low-carbon sources.

“This new sector deal will drive a surge in the clean, green offshore wind revolution that is powering homes and businesses,” said energy minister Claire Perry.

The plan also includes £4m of to help British firms share their expertise with global partners.

The Crown Estate has also committed to releasing new land this year for offshore development.

“The government must redouble its efforts to implement all parts of the industrial strategy, in order to boost productivity,” said the Confederation of British Industry’s Tom Thackray.

Offshore wind currently supplies around seven per cent of the country’s energy. Onshore wind is a cheaper form of energy, but faces more hurdles.

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Scottish Power chief executive Keith Anderson said: “The offshore wind sector deal will drive the transformation of offshore wind generation, increasing the amount of low-cost, low-carbon generation for the UK and proves that the idea utilities still need to rely on coal and gas is outdated.”