The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has unveiled new measures to minimise underwater noise levels during the construction of offshore wind projects. As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the measures should reduce noise levels in the sea to allow new offshore wind
Electricity generated by renewable sources and nuclear power will be the foundation of the UK’s electricity system by 2030, according to a new action plan the UK government issued in December 2024. Offshore wind, which now accounts for some 17 per cent of the country’s electricity generation, has “a
Donald Trump has urged the UK government to “get rid of windmills” in the North Sea and open it up for oil & gas, which earned the US president-elect an open invitation from Humber Marine and Renewables, a UK regional industry organisation, to visit Hull and witness the effects of offshore wind on t
Dutch Climate and Green Growth Minister Sophie Hermans has included LionLink, said to be the first direct-current hybrid interconnector, in the country’s latest Offshore Wind Energy Development Framework. LionLink will use the offshore grid connection of the Nederwiek 3 offshore wind farm in the Net
The Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), a UK government-owned company, has signed 130 contracts for a total of 9.58 GW of renewable energy generation, covering the projects that were successful in the country’s latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6 (AR6). AR6 secured a broad rang
Ocean Winds has completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Caledonia offshore wind farm and has started the process of submitting applications for its 2 GW Scottish project. The project’s first consent application is for the onshore transmission works (substation and underground cab
During the opening day of the World Leaders Summit at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a new strategy aimed at motivating offshore wind developers to invest in the country’s industrial heartlands, coastal areas, and oil and gas communities. According to the go
Northumberland County Council has granted outline planning permission for the Berwick Bank offshore wind project’s onshore transmission infrastructure and grid connection. The decision by Northumberland County Council approves the onshore export cables, converter station, and associated grid connect
The UK Planning Inspectorate has submitted its recommendation report on Rampion 2, the proposed 1.2 GW extension to the existing 400 MW Rampion offshore wind farm in Sussex, to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who now has three months to issue a decision. The inspectorate clo
Offshore wind developers have been awarded contracts for approximately 5.3 GW of capacity in the UK’s latest Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6 (AR6). Ørsted received the largest CfD for offshore wind, securing 2.4 GW for the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project. The offshore wind farms awa
The Development Consent Order (DCO) application of the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm, a 50/50 joint venture between RWE and SSE Renewables, has been accepted for examination by the UK Planning Inspectorate. The project’s DCO application was submitted in July 2024. North Falls now moves into the pre
A new report, prepared by global energy consultancy Xodus and published on 14 August, says that the UK, as the world’s second-largest offshore wind market, can help unlock the full potential of New Zealand’s offshore wind industry. With 15,000 kilometres of coastline, New Zealand holds vast offshore
The Crown Estate has invited proposals from the pre-qualified bidders in the Round 5 seabed leasing process which will award up to 4.5 GW of floating wind capacity in the Celtic Sea. On 13 August, The Crown Estate said the second phase of the leasing process got underway on 8 August, following the c
The UK Planning Inspectorate has completed the examination of RWE’s application for a development consent order (DCO) for Rampion 2, the proposed 1.2 GW extension to the existing 400 MW Rampion offshore wind farm in Sussex. The Examining Authority (ExA) at the Inspectorate now has three months to ma
