The recently elected UK government has moved quickly to add substance to its plans for a renaissance in onshore and offshore wind developments in the UK. It wants to double onshore capacity and quadruple the offshore wind capacity by 2030. Already, the de facto ban on onshore developments has been lifted, £7.3 billion of funding to upgrade ports has been allocated, the legislation for creating Great British Energy and a National Wealth Fund is being drafted and a new partnership between GB Energy and the Crown Estate has been announced. There are further plans for setting up a review into the planning system, scaling up floating wind projects and investing in the supply chain. Grid connections and planning issues will need to be addressed if real progress is to be made towards the 2030 target.

In contrast to the UK, the focus in Europe is more on onshore wind energy. According to Wind Europe, 18.3 GW of new wind power capacity as installed in 2023, of which the EU-27 installed 16.2 GW, a record amount but only half of what it should be building to meet its 2030 climate and energy targets. 79% of the new wind capacity built in Europe last year was onshore. The volume of new offshore installations is growing – last year it was a record 3.8 GW in Europe. But 2/3rds of the new wind installations up to 2030 will continue to be onshore. Wind energy in Europe faces many of the same challenges as in the UK.

The UK and European Wind Energy Policy & Investment Summit is a ground-breaking event that promises to chart the course for the future of offshore wind energy. Over an intensive day of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, networking and actionable insights, industry leaders, policymakers, and experts will delve into the critical dynamics of this fast growing sector.

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving policy landscape, investment opportunities, and innovative technologies driving the offshore wind industry. The speakers will also assess the challenges it faces and how these might be resolved. With a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and growth, this summit provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing that is essential for anyone invested in the clean energy transition.

Join us in shaping a greener and more sustainable future for the UK's and Europe's offshore wind sectors.