Coastal communities across the UK risk being left behind in the shift to offshore renewable energy unless governance systems are reformed, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.
The Just Transition Lab warns that the benefits of the clean energy transition may not be evenly shared, with coastal areas potentially bearing environmental and social costs while receiving limited long-term economic gains.
The findings are based on the TRANSECTS project, which analyses more than 200 years of marine industry change across Orkney, North-east Scotland and the Humber Estuary. It tracks successive waves of development including whaling, fisheries, offshore oil and gas and now offshore renewables.
Researchers reviewed 181 historical and contemporary records spanning from the 1800s to the present day. They found that marine energy transitions are cumulative, with past decisions continuing to shape present-day inequalities and opportunities.
The report highlights persistent issues including limited local influence in decision-making, boom-and-bust economic cycles and uneven distribution of jobs, investment and profits.
Dr Amy McCarron, Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, said: “Marine energy transitions are not new for coastal communities – they have been happening for centuries. What our research shows is that many of the same challenges continue to reappear, particularly around who benefits, who bears the costs, and whose voices are heard in decision-making.”
The study warns that without intervention, the expansion of offshore renewables could reinforce existing inequalities rather than reduce them.
However, it also identifies potential solutions, including more place-based planning, improved coordination between national and local government and clearer community benefit frameworks.
The report argues that sustained investment in local skills and participation will be essential to ensuring a fairer and more inclusive energy future.
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN