The UK’s offshore wind expansion will depend on faster grid connections, stronger transmission infrastructure and electricity market reforms to maintain investor confidence, according to GlobalData.
The company’s latest report, UK Power Market Trends and Analysis by Capacity, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Regulations, Key Players and Forecast to 2035, projects that the country’s installed power capacity will almost double between 2025 and 2035, with renewables accounting for 73% of the generation fleet by the end of the period.
Offshore wind, solar PV and onshore wind are expected to drive the expansion as transport, heating and industry increasingly shift towards electricity. Gas-fired plants will continue to provide flexible balancing capacity, while nuclear power will contribute low-carbon generation.
Attaurrahman Ojindaram Saibasan, Power Analyst at GlobalData, said offshore wind was central to the UK’s clean-power strategy, supported by major North Sea projects, the ScotWind leasing round and Contracts for Difference auctions. However, project awards alone would not guarantee delivery without timely grid connections and adequate supply-chain capacity.
Grid constraints remain a major challenge, with renewable projects facing connection queues and new offshore developments requiring expanded transmission links to connect coastal generation sites with major demand centers. Network investment, energy storage, demand response and digital flexibility will be essential to integrating rising renewable output.
The UK’s electricity interconnectors with neighbouring European markets also support energy security and help balance variable generation, although coordinated market arrangements and resilient cross-border infrastructure remain important.
GlobalData expects investment through the end of the decade to focus on offshore wind, nuclear power, solar PV, onshore wind, grid infrastructure and flexibility assets. The report concludes that aligning generation expansion with network development and market reforms will be crucial to converting the UK’s clean-energy ambitions into operating capacity.
