Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has called for urgent reforms to accelerate offshore wind deployment and meet the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 (CP30) target of 95% clean electricity.
In response to the government’s Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), OEUK welcomed the move to end zonal pricing but stressed that bolder steps are needed.
The group highlighted that only two offshore wind projects have been supported through the government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme since 2022, with current projections falling short of the 43GW needed by 2030.
To close the gap, OEUK says the next three CfD allocation rounds must secure an additional 20GW of capacity—enough to power 15 million homes.
“AR7 must be the turning point in making UK wind ambitions a reality,” said OEUK Wind Energy Manager Thibaut Cheret. “That means enabling floating wind to compete on equal footing, unlocking grid access and giving developers the confidence to invest at scale.”
OEUK is calling for CfD contract terms to be extended from 15 to 20 years, eligibility reforms to include well-advanced but unconsented projects and a cap and floor on transmission charges to balance costs for generators and consumers.
It also backed improved grid access reforms including compensation for delays and greater transparency for fixed and floating wind projects.
Floating turbines, which can be deployed in deeper waters, are seen as key to unlocking new sites and expediting permitting.
The industry body also supports the ScotWind leasing round, INTOG schemes to decarbonise offshore oil and gas and recent progress in the Celtic Sea leasing round.
OEUK warned that the offshore wind supply chain, shared with oil and gas, must not be allowed to decline. “With the right reforms and a pragmatic energy strategy which supports homegrown oil and gas alongside the acceleration of UK renewables, the North Sea can remain a global energy powerhouse,” said Cheret.
Offshore Energies UK calls for urgent reforms to meet 2030 wind targets appeared first on Energy Live News.