RenewableUK

.@energygovuk has today released new figures showing that renewables generated a record 52.5% of the UK’s electricity in 2025 - the second consecutive year in which they have exceeded 50%, and an increase on the previous high of 50.4% in 2024 💫 This was due to high wind and solar generation, with both technologies generating 1️⃣0️⃣ times the amount they did in 2015, and wind generation increasing to a record 30% (87.1TWh), up from 29.2% (83.6TWh) in 2024, due to increases in capacity. Our Chief Executive Tara Singh (@RenewableUKCEO) said: “These figures show renewables are now the backbone of Britain’s power system, supplying most of our electricity for the second year running, with wind doing the heavy lifting. That matters for bills, because low‑cost renewables reduce our reliance on gas, which still sets electricity prices most of the time and is vulnerable to spikes. “With the next renewables auction opening in July - and more than twice the offshore wind capacity eligible compared to the last round - there’s a real opportunity to lock in cheaper, more secure power, and the Government should be ambitious on the budget and parameters for the upcoming auction.” 📰 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou… DESNZ's full Energy Trends report is available here: gov.uk/government/col…

Our Executive Director for Policy and Engagement Ana Musat recently appeared on @EnergyRevPod, where she discussed the future of energy security in the context of both Ukraine and the current crisis in the Middle East, as well as how a renewables-based system can make us more resilient in an uncertain world. The full episode is linked below, with many thanks to Sulaiman for such a warm welcome! 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/2jDpab… This discussion follows the publication of our new report with Public First and @RUSI_org, which explores how the changing character of conflict is reshaping threats to the UK’s energy system, and what that implies for energy security as an element of national security. 'New threats and new tools: reinventing energy security for an era of instability' can be viewed via the link below 👇 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

The UK energy price cap was introduced in 2019 as a means to protect billpayers on variable electricity and gas tariffs. It’s designed to both ensure fair pricing and reflect the underlying cost of supplying energy, but what actually goes into it? 🤔 Ahead of the price cap changing tomorrow (1 April), our latest blog explores the costs that go into the price cap, how Ofgem sets it each quarter, what is changing from tomorrow, as well as what 'policy costs' and 'network costs' actually are 💡 👉 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou… We have a growing range of resources and articles covering renewables and the energy transition, as well as a library of 'myth-busting' resources to help correct the record and establish the facts with political stakeholders, decision-makers, and the general public. You can find out more and access them below: 🔗 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

What happens to wind turbines at the end of their operational lives⁉️ As the UK renewables sector continues to mature, an increasing number of first-generation wind farms are reaching the end of their operational lives, which typically stand somewhere between 20 and 30 years 🗓️ Many wind farms arriving at the late-life juncture will undergo a ‘lifetime extension’ through the replacement of specific components, whilst we are also seeing an increasing number of wind farm sites being ‘repowered’ – that is, having their original turbines removed and replaced with modern, more efficient models on the same site ⚡ However, all wind farms will ultimately be decommissioned, with turbines, foundations, blades, and cables removed in line with planning and environmental requirements, as well as the waste hierarchy. But can this decommissioning process be informed by circular economy principles? Find out more about how turbines and other individual components can be reused, repurposed or replaced, alongside other innovative developments, in our latest myth-busting blog below 👇 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Yesterday, as part of the #RNISmartEnergy Conference run by @RenewableNI, the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) was thrilled to launch its latest video profiling the Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore (NIMO) Cluster, which brings together the supply chain for the offshore wind and maritime sectors in Northern Ireland. The industrial opportunity in Northern Ireland is vast, with the potential to service not just the region but the West coasts of England, Scotland and Wales. It has the coastline, the talent, the people, and the supply chain to deliver for decades to come. Check out OWIC's regional prospectus to find out more the infrastructure, expertise, and opportunity the offshore wind sector provides to coastal communities and the next generation throughout Northern Ireland: 👉 owic.org.uk/media/cdrh3skx…

Yesterday @energygovuk announced up to £64 million of funding to transform Port Talbot into the UK’s first dedicated floating offshore wind port, marking a major step in developing the Celtic Sea as a new clean energy hub: 📰 gov.uk/government/new… The investment will support @abports21 to develop the port infrastructure needed to deliver 4.5GW of floating offshore wind capacity – enough to power millions of homes with clean, homegrown electricity. The project is expected to drive significant economic regeneration in South Wales, supporting up to 5,000 jobs and unlocking over £500 million of private investment. It builds on wider Government support for the area, including funding to support Tata Steel’s transition from coal-powered blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces – a shift that will depend on reliable, affordable clean electricity - alongside investment in skills and training, and the creation of the Celtic Freeport to attract new industries. Responding to the announcement, our Chief Executive Tara Singh (@RenewableUKCEO) said: “Investing in the infrastructure needed to make Port Talbot the first floating offshore wind hub in the Celtic Sea is a major step forward for an industry which can deliver thousands of skilled jobs, attract significant private investment and generate clean, homegrown power at scale. "Across the UK, we have an opportunity to treble our offshore wind manufacturing base over the next decade. This funding is exactly the kind of early investment which will be critical to ensure communities like Port Talbot and Wales’ wider industrial heartlands, capture that opportunity. "Recent analysis found that scaling up renewable investment could bring in up to £47 billion of private investment into Wales over the next ten years, support up to 8,000 well-paid, high-quality jobs and generate billions in tax revenues for public services. "At a time of global instability and volatile fossil fuel markets, accelerating projects like this is vital. Clean energy made here in the UK is the best way to strengthen our energy security, protect billpayers and drive long-term economic growth.” Find out more 👇 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

£64 million to transform Port Talbot into the Celtic Sea’s first floating offshore wind hub. Unlocking 4.5GW of clean, homegrown power, supporting up to 5,000 jobs and protecting households from volatile fossil fuel markets. Find out more: gov.uk/government/new…

We’re investing £64m to transform Port Talbot into Wales' first floating offshore wind hub. That means 5,000 good jobs, £500m of investment and enough clean power for 6.5m homes. We are putting Wales at the heart of our clean energy superpower mission. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Earlier today the @neso_energy announced a new British wind energy generation record 💪 Yesterday (Wednesday 25 March) wind generated a new high of 23,880 megawatts, beating the previous record of 23,825MW set on 5 December. Commenting on this fantastic achievement, our Chief Executive Tara Singh (@RenewableUKCEO) said: “It’s great to see a new British record, with enough power generated for 23 million homes, at a time when strengthening our homegrown energy security is uppermost in people’s minds due to global instability. “Wind provided more than half of Britain’s electricity during this record period, and it’s highly significant that earlier in the day low-cost wind and solar squeezed expensive gas off our energy system - with gas falling to its lowest level of generation for nearly two years, providing just 2.3% of our electricity. That’s what the energy transition looks like in practice, and it shows why we need to continue to build out an ambitious pipeline of new clean energy projects now and in the years ahead." ⚡ renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Today @TheCrownEstate announced that it will launch a new leasing round for offshore wind projects (Leasing Round 6) next year, with the aim of securing around 6GW of new renewable energy capacity in the North Sea, and continuing the UK's remarkable offshore success story 💫 Reacting to the news, our Deputy CEO Jane Cooper said: “Current events in the Middle East show just how important it is to base our future energy system on homegrown power generated in UK waters. The North Sea has become an offshore wind powerhouse, strengthening our energy security, controlling the cost of energy and moving us towards energy independence. This new leasing round for projects off the north east coast of England will open up a significant amount of new capacity to the UK’s energy system – enough to power more than six million homes. “These new projects will create fresh opportunities for businesses based all over the UK to provide the high-tech components and services needed to build vast new offshore wind farms, creating highly-skilled jobs and vital economic growth, including offshore wind centres of excellence around Blyth, Newcastle and Sunderland which will benefit from the private investment and regeneration that this new leasing round will bring to the UK. “We look forward to The Crown Estate launching their Marine Delivery Routemap which will create visibility of a pipeline of future opportunities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for example in the Celtic Sea, to maximize the amount of investment we can secure in the UK’s world class offshore wind sector”. 👉 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Yesterday our Executive Director of Policy and Engagement, Ana Musat, appeared as an expert witness before the Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Committee to discuss energy resilience in the light of the ongoing crisis in Iran, alongside representatives from the @RUSI_org and @OEUK_. Ana answered questions on the UK's energy storage capacity, the role of Government regarding physical and cyber security, as well as the nature of the threat landscape, as informed by our recent wargaming exercise. You can watch the full session back via the link below: 📽️ #player-tabs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/d8… Her suggestions to the panel included ensuring a strong Allocation Round 8 and increasing both short and long duration energy storage, as well as summarising the key recommendations from our energy security report, including encouraging consumer-led flexibility and revising cyber security guidance and size thresholds for critical infrastructure. You can view our full report 'New threats and new tools: reinventing energy security for an era of instability' below: 📚 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Our Chief Executive Tara Singh (@RenewableUKCEO) has written today in the @spectator setting the case for renewables in practical, rather than moral, terms. This article forms part of our work to bring the pragmatic case for renewable energy into spaces where it isn’t always heard, and to do so by focusing on shared priorities - namely energy security, stability, and economic resilience - rather than political dividing lines. Read the full piece below 👇 📰 spectator.com/article/wind-p…

.@Vestas has today announced plans to establish a nacelle and hub factory in Scotland to service growing demand for offshore wind in the UK and Europe, following record-breaking AR7 auction results earlier this year 🙌 👉 vestas.com/en/media/compa… Commenting on the announcement, which will directly support 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ skilled jobs and represents a capital investment of more than €250m (£216 million), our Chief Executive Tara Singh (@RenewableUKCEO) said: “This is a hugely welcome investment in Scotland’s offshore wind manufacturing base, creating hundreds of high-quality jobs. This won’t only strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind, but a greater domestic manufacturing base will make the UK more resilient to trade wars, tariffs and disruptions to global supply chains. “The UK has continued to increase its offshore wind ambitions in recent years, and we’re now seeing that translate into real investment, with developers and supply chain companies responding to a more stable, confident market. This also reflects the shared industrial vision developed together through the offshore wind sector’s Industrial Growth Plan and the Government’s Industrial Strategy, backed by new public and private investment. “The supportive financial environment now in place, notably from Great British Energy and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, is helping to unlock projects like this, giving manufacturers the confidence to invest at scale. This will also have a ripple effect across the wider supply chain, creating new opportunities for businesses at every level. “With continued support, we could triple the UK’s offshore wind manufacturing base over the next decade, adding £25 billion to the economy and creating over 100,000 jobs in wind.” 📣 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Why wind power isn't “woke”, my piece in today's @spectator. The North Sea matters but won’t cut bills - we pay the global price for gas. Fracking is unpopular and wouldn’t change that. SMRs are promising but distant. Wind is the practical, affordable option to build right now. spectator.com/article/wind-p…

This morning @energygovuk announced that it will launch a trial scheme this winter to enable energy companies to offer consumers lower electricity bills in areas of abundant wind generation, such as Scotland and the East of England 🗺️ This would the see the use of generated power become a more cost-effective option than turning turbines off, thereby minimising constraint payments for wind which would previously have gone untilised. 📢 gov.uk/government/new… We have welcomed this announcement as an effective means to lower the burden on billpayers, with our Head of Policy Steven Agnew commenting: “Offering people lower electricity bills when there’s an abundance of renewable power is a welcome step which shows how wind can help drive down bills and make good use of a flexible energy system. "Constraint costs are the result of decades of underinvestment in our national grid infrastructure. These costs are set to fall by around 60% as planned network upgrades are delivered, but we should be doing everything we can to reduce them further in the meantime, especially where billpayers can benefit directly. "This is a practical way to ensure more people see the value of clean, home-grown energy as we build the modern grid needed to fully utilise it.” 👉 renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

ICYMI on Friday, we have published a new stakeholder briefing paper examining the reasons why expediting the roll-out of renewable energy is the best way to ensure lasting energy security and lower bills 📢 The paper sets out exactly how: 📈 Renewables are the UK’s cheapest, fastest and most secure source of new power, cutting reliance on imported gas, whose price is set internationally. 💷 The Government spent £44bn protecting households during the 2022 energy crisis. Over the same period, renewables on fixed price Contracts for Difference paid £500m back to consumers. ⚡ Wind is consistently cheaper than new gas-fired generation even at 'normal' gas prices: onshore wind is half the cost of new gas turbines; offshore wind is 40% cheaper. On today’s record gas prices, new gas generation would be more than double the cost of new on or offshore wind if sustained. 🤝 The wind industry is also an industrial growth engine, supporting 55,000 jobs, rising to 110,000 by 2030, with 2,000 companies and 160 factories across the UK and the potential to add £25bn through domestic manufacturing. 👍 80% of the public support wind energy, and just 4% oppose. Read the full paper below ⬇️ renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

With events in the middle east and beyond dominating recent headlines, you may have missed some positive news for UK wind energy... Last week @energygovuk announced that the Government was streamlining the planning process to enable farmers to install more small onshore wind turbines: 📰 gov.uk/government/new… According to EnergyPulse, at least 369 farms in the UK have already installed large or medium scale wind turbines, with this new permitted development opening up an easier avenue for farmers to add small turbines without needing planning permission. Hats off to the @NFUtweets for pushing for the change. Let’s hope more farmers take this great opportunity! 🙌

We have published a new stakeholder briefing paper examining the reasons why expediting the roll-out of renewable energy is the best way to ensure lasting energy security and lower bills 📢 The paper sets out exactly how: 📈 Renewables are the UK’s cheapest, fastest and most secure source of new power, cutting reliance on imported gas, whose price is set internationally. 💷 The Government spent £44bn protecting households during the 2022 energy crisis. Over the same period, renewables on fixed price Contracts for Difference paid £500m back to consumers. ⚡ Wind is consistently cheaper than new gas-fired generation even at 'normal' gas prices: onshore wind is half the cost of new gas turbines; offshore wind is 40% cheaper. On today’s record gas prices, new gas generation would be more than double the cost of new on or offshore wind if sustained. 🤝 The wind industry is also an industrial growth engine, supporting 55,000 jobs, rising to 110,000 by 2030, with 2,000 companies and 160 factories across the UK and the potential to add £25bn through domestic manufacturing. 👍 80% of the public support wind energy, and just 4% oppose. Read the full paper below ⬇️ renewableuk.com/news-and-resou…

Earlier this week we were delighted to open nominations for our 2026 Board election 🙌 We'll be electing up to 4️⃣ new Board members to help guide RenewableUK through the next phase of the energy transition. Election to the Board will put you at the heart of the discussions that will shape how we deliver for billpayers and local communities, as well as the country’s overarching energy security, as you help us build and promote a shared story about the benefits of renewables and the energy transition: from jobs and skills in coastal and rural communities, to billions of pounds of investment in ports, grids and supply chains. 🗓️ Nominations will remain open until Friday 10 April and you can find out more below: renewableuk.com/about-us/board…

Today the @DefenceHQ and @energygovuk announced a series of upgrades to the UK's air defence radars, which will enable up to 10GW of offshore wind capacity to be unlocked. Following close collaboration with industry, the Government has bought specially designed air defence radars, which will mitigate against anomalies currently created by offshore wind farms and be installed from early 2029. Benj Sykes, OWIC Board Sponsor for Aviation and Defence, and Vice President and UK Country Manager for @Orsted, said: “The Offshore Wind Industry Council welcomes the news that the Ministry of Defence and Department of Energy Security and Net Zero has concluded procurement for a new air defence mitigation solution. This programme will ensure we are able to unlock over 10 gigawatts of wind energy by 2030, as well as billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs for the UK, without compromising our national defence. “This is the culmination of a truly collaborative process over several years, with Government and industry working in lockstep to deliver a solution that allows air defence and offshore wind to harmoniously co-exist. Offshore wind will be central to delivering the secure, reliable energy system that Britain needs, and we look forward to working together as its buildout gathers pace.” Find out more 👇 gov.uk/government/new…