Offshore wind energy plays a pivotal role in the United Kingdom’s transition towards a low-carbon energy system. As of 2024, offshore wind farms contribute significantly to the UK’s renewable energy capacity, generating approximately 15 gigawatts (GW) of power. These installations are a crucial part of the government’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with an ambitious target of producing 50 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
From Scotland to the Thames Estuary, these projects harness wind resources in the North Sea and beyond, with the latest data showing offshore wind provides electricity to approximately one-third of UK households every year. The following snapshot is the second in a series of status updates on global offshore wind development.
Up and running
Barrow Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2006
Status: Online
Overview
Barrow Offshore Wind Farm is approximately seven kilometres southwest of Walney Island, off the North West coast of England. It was developed through a joint venture between Centrica and the company now known as Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy).
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 30 turbines, each with a capacity of three megawatts (MW), for a total installed capacity of 90 MW. The turbines are arranged in four rows within an area of about 10 square kilometres. The electricity generated is transformed at the offshore substation to 132 kilovolts (kV) for transmission to the national grid connection point at Heysham.
Significance
Barrow was among the UK’s first offshore wind farms and generates sufficient electricity to power over 80,000 homes annually.
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2019
Status: Online
Overview
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm is located approximately 13 kilometres off the Caithness coast in Scotland. It was developed through a joint venture involving SSE Renewables, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Red Rock Power Limited. The project represents a significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure, with a total capital expenditure of around £2.5 billion.
Technical details
The wind farm comprises 84 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a capacity of 7 MW, resulting in a total installed capacity of 588 MW. The electricity generated is transmitted through subsea cables to the Blackhillock Substation via underground cables, facilitating efficient distribution to the national grid. The wind farm’s jacket foundations are notable for being among the deepest fixed foundations used in offshore wind projects globally, installed in water depths exceeding 56 metres.
Significance
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm is capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately 450,000 homes annually. Over its expected operational lifetime of 25 years, it is projected to save around eight million tonnes of carbon emissions.
Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm
Commissioning date: June 2018
Status: Online
Overview
The Blyth Offshore Wind Farm is a test and demonstration site located six kilometres off the coast of Northumberland, near the town of Blyth. The project is owned and operated by EDF Renewables and serves as a key testing ground for innovative offshore wind technologies, including larger turbine sizes and floating offshore wind platforms.
Technical details
The project consists of five turbines, each with a capacity of 8.3 MW, resulting in a total capacity of 41.5 MW. These turbines are supported by gravity-based foundations, which represent an innovative technology in offshore wind development. The generated electricity is transmitted via subsea cables to an onshore substation near Cambois, Northumberland.
Significance
Blyth Offshore Demonstrator generates enough low-carbon electricity to power approximately 34,000 UK households. It also serves as a vital testbed for more offshore wind projects.
Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2007
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Ørsted, Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm is located 6.4 kilometres off the coast of Liverpool Bay in the Irish Sea and was one of the early UK offshore wind farms.
Technical details
Burbo Bank has a total installed capacity of 90 MW, consisting of 25 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW.
Significance
Burbo Bank was instrumental in the early expansion of the UK’s offshore wind sector, generating enough renewable energy to power over 80,000 homes annually.
Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: May 2017
Status: Online
Overview
The Burbo Bank Extension is an expansion of the original Burbo Bank project, located seven kilometres from Liverpool Bay. It marks a significant upgrade in offshore wind technology and capacity.
Technical details
The extension includes 32 turbines with a capacity of 8 MW each, giving the project a total installed capacity of 258 MW.
Significance
The Burbo Bank Extension, featuring MHI Vestas’s 8 MW turbines, marked significant progress in offshore wind technology. These V164-8.0 MW turbines, among the most powerful at the time, were deployed commercially for the first time at this site. Their high capacity meant fewer turbines were needed, while the 164-metre rotor and 80-metre blades enhanced energy capture and overall performance. The project generates enough electricity to power over 230,000 homes annually.
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2017
Status: Online
Overview
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm is situated 32 kilometres off the coast of Norfolk. Dudgeon is a joint venture between Equinor (formerly Statoil), Masdar, and China Resources (Holdings) Co. Ltd., with Equinor acting as the operator. The wind farm’s construction cost was around £1.4 billion.
Technical details
The offshore wind farm consists of 67 Siemens turbines, each generating 6 MW, spanning a total area of 35 square kilometres. With a total installed capacity of 402 MW, the facility produces approximately 1.75 TWh of electricity.
Significance
The wind farm generates enough electricity annually to power over 410,000 homes and displaces approximately 893,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
East Anglia One Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2020
Status: Online
Overview
East Anglia One is located 43 kilometres off the Suffolk coast, developed by ScottishPower Renewables. A £2.5-billion project, it forms part of the East Anglia Zone, which was identified by The Crown Estate for offshore wind development.
Technical details
East Anglia One has a total installed capacity of 714 MW, consisting of 102 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a capacity of 7 MW. The wind farm spans an area of 300 square kilometres. Its electricity generation is capable of powering over 630,000 homes annually. The turbines are connected via subsea cables to an onshore substation in Suffolk.
Significance
Each year, the wind farm produces enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of around 700,000 homes.
Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm (European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre)
Commissioning date: 2018
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Vattenfall, the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), is located approximately 2.4 kilometres off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 11 turbines with a total installed capacity of 93.2 MW. It includes the first deployment of Vestas’s 8.8 MW turbines, making them some of the most powerful offshore wind turbines in operation at the time of commissioning.
Significance
The Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 80,000 UK homes annually. The project is designed to serve as a test and demonstration facility, enabling technical trials in turbine design, operation, and maintenance, making it a critical testbed for offshore wind advancements.
Galloper Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2018
Status: Online
Overview
Galloper Offshore Wind Farm is located 27 kilometres off the Suffolk coast. It was developed and constructed by RWE (formerly known as Innogy) in collaboration with several partners, including Siemens Gamesa, which supplied the turbines, with the construction costs totaling approximately £1.5 billion.
It was developed near the Greater Gabbard project, complementing its output but operating as a separate wind farm.
Technical details
Galloper has a total installed capacity of 353 MW, utilizing 56 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW. The turbines are linked via subsea cables to a substation at Sizewell, Suffolk.
Significance
Galloper Offshore Wind Farm covers an area of 180 square kilometres and generates enough electricity annually to power over 444,000 homes.
Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2012
Status: Online
Overview
Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm is located 23 kilometres off the coast of Suffolk, England, in the North Sea, covering an area of 147 square kilometres. It was developed by a joint venture between SSE Renewables and RWE.
Technical details
Greater Gabbard consists of 140 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, for a total installed capacity of 504 MW. Its transmission infrastructure includes subsea cables linking the turbines to an onshore substation at Sizewell.
Significance
Greater Gabbard generates enough renewable energy to power around 530,000 homes annually.
Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2015
Status: Online
Overview
Gwynt y Môr is located 13 kilometres off the coast of North Wales. The project was developed by a joint venture between RWE Renewables, Stadtwerke München, and Siemens. The project plays a crucial role in supplying renewable energy to the UK’s grid, contributing to the nation’s renewable energy goals.
Technical details
The wind farm has a total installed capacity of 576 MW, utilizing 160 Siemens turbines with a capacity of 3.6 MW each.
Significance
Gwynt y Môr covers an area of 80 square kilometres and generates enough electricity to power approximately 467,000 homes annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 1.7 million tonnes per year.
Gunfleet Sands 1 & 2 Offshore Wind Farms
Status: Online
Commissioning date: Gunfleet Sands 1 in 2009; Gunfleet Sands 2 in 2010.
Overview
Developed by Ørsted, Gunfleet Sands 1 and 2 are located seven kilometres off the coast of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, in the Thames Estuary.
Technical details
The combined capacity of Gunfleet Sands 1 & 2 is 172 MW, consisting of 48 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW. The wind farms cover an area of around 17 square kilometres and utilize monopile foundations to anchor the turbines to the seabed.
Significance
Gunfleet Sands 1 & 2 generate enough electricity to power approximately 125,000 UK households annually.
Gunfleet Sands 3 – Demonstration Project
Status: Online
Commissioning date: 2013
Overview
Developed by Ørsted, Gunfleet Sands 3 is located off the coast of Essex, England. The project was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Siemens 6 MW offshore wind turbines in a real-world environment. It is an extension of the Gunfleet Sands 1 and 2 wind farms.
Technical details
Gunfleet Sands 3 consists of two Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW, bringing the total installed capacity of the demonstration project to 12 MW.
Significance
Gunfleet Sands 3 serves as a demonstration project, providing valuable data on the performance of larger offshore turbines and helping to refine wind technology. By successfully demonstrating the Siemens 6 MW turbines, it helped advance the development of high-capacity offshore turbines, paving the way for future installations in commercial wind farms.
Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2020
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Ørsted, Hornsea One is located off the coast of Yorkshire in the North Sea, spanning an area of 407 square kilometres.
Technical details
Hornsea One consists of 174 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a capacity of 7 MW, giving the entire project a total generation capacity of 1.2 GW. The turbines are placed 120 kilometres from shore and rise to a height of 190 metres. Hornsea 1 connects to the National Grid via three high-voltage subsea cables, stretching over 900 kilometres.
Significance
Hornsea One generates enough electricity annually to power over one million homes in the UK.
Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2022
Status: Online
Overview
Hornsea Two, located 89 kilometres off the coast of Yorkshire, is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. Developed by Ørsted, it follows the successful Hornsea One project and contributes to the UK’s renewable energy transition.
Technical details
With an area of 462 square kilometres, the farm consists of 165 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines, each standing 200 metres tall with 81-metre blades. The total installed capacity is 1.32 GW.
Significance
The wind farm can generate enough electricity annually to power over 1.3 million homes.
Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2015
Status: Online
Overview
Humber Gateway is located eight kilometres off the coast of East Yorkshire. The offshore wind farm is owned and operated by RWE, following its acquisition of E.ON’s renewable energy business.
Technical details
Humber Gateway has an installed capacity of 219 MW, with 73 turbines, each having a capacity of 3 MW.
Significance
The energy produced is sufficient to power around 170,000 homes, approximately 1.5 times the size of Hull.
Hywind Scotland Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2017
Status: Online
Overview
Hywind Scotland is the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, located 25 kilometres off the coast of Peterhead, Scotland. Developed by Equinor, the project demonstrates the potential of floating wind technology in deeper waters unsuitable for fixed-bottom turbines.
Technical details
Hywind Scotland consists of five 6-MW floating turbines with a total installed capacity of 30 MW.
The turbines, which have a rotor diameter of 154 metres, are mounted on floating structures and tethered to the seabed, enabling them to operate in water depths of up to 120 metres, far beyond the reach of conventional fixed-bottom wind farms.
Significance
The project generates enough electricity to power around 20,000 homes annually.
As the first floating wind farm, Hywind Scotland is a pioneering project that expands the possibilities for offshore wind development in deeper waters, contributing to the diversification of renewable energy sources.
Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2005
Status: Online
Overview
Kentish Flats is located 8.5 kilometres off the coast of Kent in the Thames Estuary. Owned and operated by Vattenfall, it was one of the earliest offshore wind farms built in the UK.
Technical details
The project includes 30 Vestas V90-3MW turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 90 metres, generating a total capacity of 90 MW. The wind farm spans an area of 10 square kilometres and operates in shallow waters of about five metres in depth, with power transmitted to the shore via three subsea cables.
In 2015, Vattenfall expanded the project with the Kentish Flats Extension, adding 15 more turbines. This increased the total capacity by 49.5 MW to 39.5 MW, with the extension alone producing around 150 GWh of electricity annually. The turbines were connected to the National Grid via subsea cables.
Significance
As one of the earliest offshore wind farms in the UK, the farm provided renewable electricity to approximately 61,000 homes annually, and to an additional 35,000 homes post-extension.
Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2021
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Kincardine Offshore Wind Limited (KOWL), the Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm is located approximately 15 kilometres off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Technical details
The total installed capacity of the wind farm is 50 MW, with an annual electricity generation of around 218,000 megawatt hours (MWh). The floating offshore wind farm consists of six turbines: five Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines and one V80-2.0 MW turbine.
Significance
This output is sufficient to power approximately 55,000 households in Scotland and offsets about 94,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Lincs Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2013
Status: Online
Overview
The Lincs Offshore Wind Farm, located eight kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast, was developed by Centrica in partnership with DONG Energy (now Ørsted) and Siemens Project Ventures. Centrica initially held a 50 per cent stake, while Ørsted and Siemens each held 25 per cent. Construction began in 2010, with a total project cost of approximately £1 billion. Over the years, ownership has shifted: Centrica and Siemens have divested their shares, with Ørsted now operating the wind farm. Octopus Energy has steadily increased its stake, reaching nearly 31 per cent by 2023, while Macquarie Asset Management holds a 44 per cent stake. Centrica’s exit aligns with its strategy to focus on customer-facing services, while Siemens divested as part of its broader investment evolution.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 75 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, giving a total capacity of 270 MW. The turbines are installed in water depths of between eight to 18 metres, and the wind farm spans an area of 35 square kilometres. The electricity generated by Lincs is exported to the UK’s National Grid through two 220 kV subsea export cables, running to the onshore substation at Walpole.
Significance
Lincs generates enough electricity to power over 240,000 homes annually.
London Array Offshore Wind Farm
Status: Online
Commissioning date: 2013
Overview
Developed by a consortium including RWE, Ørsted, and Masdar, the London Array is located around 20 kilometres off the coasts of Kent and Essex in the Thames Estuary. Its ownership is shared between RWE (30 per cent), CDPQ (25 per cent), Schroders Greencoat (25 per cent), and Masdar (20 per cent).
Technical details
With an annual generation capacity of up to 2.5 terawatt hours (TWh), London Array consists of 175 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, for a total installed capacity of 630 MW. It covers an area of 100 square kilometres, with water depths up to 25 metres.
Significance
Constructed with an investment of £1.9 billion, the London Array offsets about 925,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms
Commissioning date: 2009
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Centrica, the Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms are two adjacent offshore wind farms, located five kilometres off the coast of Skegness, Lincolnshire. Lynn and Inner Dowsing were among the early large-scale offshore wind projects in the UK and were constructed at a total cost of approximately £300 million. Today, the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms are maintained by GLID Wind Farms, a joint venture between Greencoat UK Wind and other investors.
Technical details
These twin projects, developed by Centrica, have a combined installed capacity of 194 MW, comprising 54 Siemens 3.6 MW turbines, with the turbines arranged over a large area in the North Sea.
Significance
They collectively produce enough clean energy to power approximately 130,000 homes annually.
Moray East Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2022
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm is located in the Moray Firth, off the northeast coast of Scotland. It was awarded development rights under the UK’s Contracts for Difference scheme and cost approximately £2.6 billion.
Technical details
Moray East has a total installed capacity of 950 MW, generated by 100 Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 164 metres. The wind farm generates enough electricity annually to power over 950,000 homes. The site spans a 295 square-kilometre area, and the turbines are installed in waters between 38 and 54 metres deep.
Significance
This project produces enough clean energy to power approximately 950,000 UK homes annually, reducing 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The project was developed under the Contracts for Difference scheme, which guarantees a fixed price for the electricity generated.
North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2004
Status: Online
Overview
Located approximately 6.4 kilometres off the North Wales coast, The North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm, covering an area of about 10 square kilometres, was developed by npower Renewables Ltd,
Technical details
North Hoyle consists of 30 Vestas turbines, each with a capacity of 2 MW, for a total installed capacity of 60 MW.
Significance
North Hoyle was the first commercial offshore wind farm in the UK and generates enough electricity annually to power around 50,000 homes.
Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2012
Status: Online
Overview
The Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm, developed by Vattenfall, is located in the Irish Sea, approximately 10 kilometres off the coast of Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness.
The project is owned by Vattenfall (51 per cent) and AMF Pensionsforsakring (49 per cent).
Technical details
Ormonde has a total installed capacity of 150 MW, consisting of 30 REpower 5 MW turbines. The project covers an area of 8.7 square kilometres and connects to the mainland grid through a 42-kilometre subsea cable.
Ormonde was originally designed to integrate both wind power and gas. This involved a co-development approach, where undeveloped gas fields would be exploited alongside wind turbines. The gas infrastructure was eventually omitted and Ormonde is now solely a wind-power facility.
Significance
Energy from the wind farm powers approximately 100,000 homes annually.
Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2018
Status: Online
Overview
Located in the North Sea, approximately 27 kilometres off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast and 28 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St Leonards, Race Bank was developed by Ørsted.
Race Bank’s primary stakeholders include Ørsted, which holds a 50 per cent stake, and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, with a 25 per cent share. Other investors include Sumitomo Corporation (12.5 per cent) and funds advised by the Green Investment Group, Arjun Infrastructure Partners, and Gravis Capital Management (12.5 per cent). In June 2024, Macquarie Asset Management announced the divestment of a 37.5 per cent stake in Race Bank to Norges Bank Investment Management for approximately £330 million.
Technical details
Covering an area of 75 square kilometres, Race Bank has an installed capacity of 573 MW, consisting of 91 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW.
Significance
The wind farm powers over 500,000 homes annually, contributing significantly to the UK’s renewable energy production.
Rampion Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2018
Status: Online
Overview
Located in the English Channel, approximately 13 kilometres off the Sussex coast, the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm was developed by E.ON UK, which played a crucial role in its initial development and construction. Rampion’s current ownership structure consists of three shareholders — RWE Renewables UK Limited holds the majority stake with 50.1 per cent, Enbridge owns 24.9 per cent, and Equitix possesses 25 per cent of the shares.
Technical details
Rampion consists of 116 turbines, each with a capacity of 3.45 MW, for a total installed capacity of 400 MW. The turbines are installed in water depths of 19 to 45 metres and cover an area of 72 square kilometres. Each turbine measures 140 metres from sea level to the blade tip.
Significance
The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm generates nearly 1,400 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually, powering approximately 350,000 homes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 600,000 tonnes each year.
Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2009
Status: Online
Overview
Developed and operated by RWE Renewables, the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm is located about eight kilometres off the coast of North Wales, near Llandudno. RWE holds a 50.1 per cent stake in the project, while Green Investment Group and Greencoat UK Wind each hold 24.95 per cent. The total project cost is estimated at around £200 million.
Technical details
The wind farm comprises 25 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, resulting in a total installed capacity of 90 MW. These turbines are installed in water depths ranging from five to 12 metres, and the site covers an area of about 10 square kilometres. The electricity generated is transmitted to an onshore substation at Clwyd, which connects the energy to the national grid.
Significance
Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm provides renewable electricity sufficient to power around 61,000 homes annually. The project contributes significantly to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 160,000 tonnes each year.
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: April 2010
Status: Online
Overview
Robin Rigg, located in the Solway Firth between Cumbria and Galloway, was the first commercial offshore wind farm in Scottish waters. Developed by E.ON, it comprises two sections, Robin Rigg East and West, with 60 Vestas turbines. E.ON oversaw its construction and managed operations until April 2010. In March 2011, the transmission assets were transferred to Transmission Capital Partners under an OFTO arrangement, shifting E.ON’s role to service provider for maintenance. RWE now fully owns and operates Robin Rigg, having acquired it from E.ON, and serves as the primary owner and operator.
Technical details
Robin Rigg features 60 turbines manufactured by Vestas, each with a capacity of 3 MW. This setup enables Robin Rigg to generate a total of 180 MW of electricity.
Significance
Together, Robin Rigg East and West have a combined capacity that allows them to supply electricity to approximately 137,000 homes, significantly contributing to the region’s renewable energy landscape while offsetting around 230,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2004
Status: Online
Overview
Situated on the Scroby Sands sandbank in the North Sea, approximately 2.5 kilometres off the coast of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, the project is currently owned and operated by RWE, which holds a 100 per cent stake in the project. Originally developed by E.ON UK, it was one of the earliest offshore wind farms in the UK. RWE took over the Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm in December 2004, shortly after its development and commissioning by E.ON UK in March of the same year.
Technical details
Scroby Sands has an installed capacity of 60 MW, comprising 30 Vestas turbines, each with a capacity of 2 MW. The wind farm generates enough electricity to power around 48,000 homes annually.
Significance
The wind farm generates enough electricity to power around 48,000 homes annually.
Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: October 2023
Status: Online
Overview
Seagreen is located 27 kilometres off the coast of Angus in the North Sea. Seagreen is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (49 per cent), TotalEnergies (25.5 per cent), and PTTEP (25.5 per cent), with SSE leading the development and construction.
Technical details
Seagreen Phase 1 has an installed capacity of 1,075 MW, with 114 turbines, each with a capacity of 10 MW.
Significance
Seagreen has a generating capacity of 1,075 MW, this wind farm powers over 1.6 million homes annually and displaces over two million tonnes of CO2.
Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2012
Status: Online
Overview
Located between 17 and 23 kilometres off the coast of North Norfolk in the UK, Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm is owned by Equinor, Green Investment Group and Equitix through a joint-venture company Scira Offshore Energy Limited, with Equinor as the wind farm’s operator.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 88 Siemens turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, resulting in a total capacity of 317 MW.
Significance
Electricity generated from Sheringham Shoal is sufficient to power around 280,000 homes annually. Compared to fossil fuels, that is a reduction of around 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
Teesside Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2014
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by EDF Renewables, the Teesside Offshore Wind Farm is situated 1.5 kilometres off the coast near Redcar, North East England.
Technical details
The wind farm has a capacity of 62 MW, consisting of 27 Siemens turbines, each with a 2.3 MW capacity.
Significance
The project generates enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes annually.
Thanet Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: September 2010
Status: Online
Overview
The Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, located approximately 11 kilometres off the coast of Kent, is owned and operated by Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company. The project was developed under the UK’s Round 2 offshore wind program with an estimated construction cost of £780 million.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 100 Vestas V90 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 3 MW, contributing to a total electricity capacity of 300 MW. The turbines are positioned in water depths ranging from 20 to 25 metres and cover an area of approximately 35 square kilometres. Each turbine stands at a height of up to 115 metres, with a rotor diameter of 90 metres. The spacing between turbines is approximately 500 metres along rows and 800 metres between rows.
Significance
The wind farm generates sufficient electricity to power approximately 240,000 homes annually, offsetting around 600,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2022
Status: Online
Overview
Located approximately 32 kilometres off the coast of Lincolnshire and 45.1 kilometres from north Norfolk, the Triton Knoll wind farm was developed by RWE. The project is a collaboration among RWE (59 per cent), J-Power (24 per cent), and Kansai Electric Power (16 per cent), with RWE playing a crucial role in managing both the construction phase and the wind farm’s ongoing operations. The project secured a Contract for Difference from the UK government in September 2017.
Technical details
The wind farm has a total installed capacity of 857 MW, consisting of 90 MHI Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines, each with a tip height reaching up to 220 metres, which enables it to harness wind energy effectively.
Significance
The Triton Knoll project generates enough electricity to power approximately 935,000 homes annually.
Walney Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2012; 2018 for Walney extension
Status: Online
Overview
The Walney Offshore Wind Farm, developed by Ørsted, is located approximately 15 kilometres off the coast of Walney Island in the Irish Sea, near Barrow-in-Furness, England. The project initially consisted of two phases, Walney 1 and Walney 2, with this original development setting the stage for a future expansion. Located approximately 19 kilometres from the coast, the Walney extension covers an area of 145 square kilometres.
Walney is owned by Ørsted (50.1 per cent), SSE (25.1 per cent), and a consortium of PGGM and Dutch Ampère Equity Fund (24.8 per cent). Ørsted has a 50 per cent stake in Walney Extension. Last year, Octopus Energy bought a 12.5 per cent stake in extension from AIP Management, the investment manager for Danish pension funds PKA and PFA.
Technical details
Walney 1 and Walney 2 together have a total capacity of 367.2 MW. Each comprises 51 Siemens wind turbines, utilizing 3.6 MW turbines. The Walney Extension, which became operational in 2018, expanded the capacity of the wind farm by an additional 659 MW, making it the world’s largest offshore wind farm at the time of completion. It features 87 turbines, split between two types: 40 MHI Vestas turbines rated at 8 MW each and 47 Siemens Gamesa turbines rated at 7 MW each. This combination marked the first time an offshore wind farm used turbines from two different manufacturers, showcasing a diverse and flexible approach to technology integration.
Significance
The project’s combined capacity of 1,026 MW from both the original and extension phases enables it to power nearly one million UK homes.
Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: 2015
Status: Online
Overview
Westermost Rough is located eight kilometres off the Yorkshire coast, north of Hull. It was Ørsted’s first project to use the larger 6 MW turbines, pushing the boundaries of turbine technology in offshore wind development. The project is jointly owned by Ørsted (50 per cent), Equitix, USS, Stepstone, BAE Systems Pension Funds, and CLAL Insurance.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 35 Siemens Gamesa turbines with a 154-meter rotor span and a total installed capacity of 210 MW.
Significance
The wind farm generates enough electricity to annually power around 180,000 UK homes.
West of Duddon Sands Offshore Wind Farm
Commissioning date: October 2014
Status: Online
Overview
Located in the East Irish Sea, approximately 14 kilometres from Walney Island, Cumbria, the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm is a joint venture between ScottishPower Renewables and Ørsted. The wind farm is positioned near other operational offshore projects, such as Barrow, Walney, and Ormonde.
Technical details
The wind farm consists of 108 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each rated at 3.6 MW, for a total capacity of 389 MW. The turbines are equipped with a rotor diameter of 120 metres, optimizing their ability to capture wind energy even in varying weather conditions.
Significance
The wind farm plays a crucial role in supplying clean energy to over 270,000 households in the UK annually.
Under construction
Dogger Bank Wind Farm
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, located over 130 kilometres off England’s northeast coast, will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion in 2026. Developed in three phases (A, B, and C), each with a 1.2 GW capacity, it will generate 3.6 GW — enough to power six million UK homes. In October 2023, Dogger Bank A’s first turbine began generating power. The project uses GE’s Haliade-X turbines, producing up to 14 MW each. SSE Renewables is leading construction, with Equinor as the future operator.
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm
The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is a 1.4 GW project by RWE, located 195 km off the UK’s northeast coast on Dogger Bank. Equipped with 100 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines, the project began onshore construction in Teesside in 2021 and offshore construction in 2023. The first turbine foundation was installed in May 2024. Upon its 2026 completion, Sofia will supply renewable energy to approximately 1.2 million UK homes.
Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm
Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm, developed by Ørsted, is set to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, located 160 kilometres off the Yorkshire coast. With a 2.9 GW capacity, it will power over 3.3 million homes. In July 2022, it received a Contract for Difference at GBP 37.35 per MWh. Ørsted made the final investment decision in December 2023, including plans for Siemens Gamesa turbines and a 600 MWh Tesla battery storage system in Norfolk. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
East Anglia Three Offshore Wind Farm
The East Anglia Three Offshore Wind Farm, developed by ScottishPower Renewables, is located 69 kilometres off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea. Approved in 2017, construction began in 2022, and the project is set to become operational by 2026. With up to 100 turbines totaling 1,400 MW capacity, it is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 1.3 million UK homes.
Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm
The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm, located 15.5 kilometres off the Fife coast in Scotland, spans 105 square kilometres and features 54 turbines with a capacity of 450 MW, powering 375,000 homes and offsetting 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Acquired by EDF Renewables UK in 2018, with ESB taking a 50 per cent stake in 2019, construction began in August 2020. The first turbine was installed in July 2023, and the project started generating power in October 2024. NnG is expected to be fully operational by summer 2025.
Seagreen Phase 1 Offshore Wind Farm
The Seagreen Phase 1 Offshore Wind Farm, Scotland’s largest, is located 27 kilometres off Angus in the North Sea. It has 114 Vestas V164-10.0 MW turbines, totaling 1,075 MW. Construction started in June 2020, with the first turbine installed in December 2021, and the first power generated in August 2022. Fully operational by October 2023, the farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables (49 per cent) and TotalEnergies (51 per cent), powers 1.6 million homes annually and cuts over two million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
