Climate

UK marks 25 years since first offshore wind farm began generating power

Published

3 months ago

December 8, 2025

Sector now powers millions of homes and supports 40,000 jobs

THE UK today (Dec 8) marks a significant milestone: 25 years since the country’s first offshore wind farm began generating electricity. Blyth Offshore Wind Farm, built off the Northumberland coast in 2000, consisted of just two turbines producing four megawatts of power — enough for three thousand homes — and laid the foundations for what has become one of the UK’s most important energy industries.

In the space of a single generation, offshore wind has grown into the UK’s largest source of clean electricity. In 2024 it provided more than thirty-four per cent of all renewable power and generated a record seventeen per cent of the UK’s electricity overall, totalling 48.5 terawatt hours. The current fleet has a combined capacity equivalent to five large nuclear power stations.

Across UK waters, 2,878 turbines are now in operation — ten floating and 2,868 fixed — with a total generating capacity of 16.1 gigawatts. That is enough to power more than sixteen million homes each year. Industry estimates suggest that, without this development, the UK would have had to burn an additional twenty million tonnes of gas over the past twenty-five years, producing more than sixty million tonnes of CO₂.

The sector’s growth has also reshaped the economy. Nearly two thousand companies now operate within the UK wind supply chain, including one hundred and sixty factories. Their combined activity is forecast to contribute £18.2bn to the UK economy over the next decade. Around forty thousand jobs are currently supported by offshore wind — a figure projected to rise to ninety-four thousand by 2030.

Construction is accelerating. More than 7.5GW of new offshore wind is already being built and is due to become fully operational within the next two years, with a further 22GW consented through to 2033.

‘Britain is once again leading the world in clean power’

Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP said: “Twenty-five years after the first offshore wind turbines began to turn, Britain is once again leading the world in clean homegrown power. Offshore wind is at the heart of our 2030 mission – helping us reduce our dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, lower bills for good, and support one hundred thousand jobs by 2030.”

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said the sector’s progress had brought “jobs, investment, energy security, and environmental benefits in equal measure,” adding that next month’s clean power auction could secure a record amount of new offshore capacity. “A consistent pipeline of projects is vital to trigger new investment in factories and supply chain companies,” she said.

Julia Rose, Head of Offshore Wind at The Crown Estate, said the UK’s first 25 years demonstrated “the transformative power of collaboration and strategic vision,” noting that 45 operational wind farms are now in UK waters with a 95GW development pipeline. The Crown Estate plans to bring a further 20–30GW of new leasing opportunities to market by 2030.

Ed Daniels, CEO of Venterra Group, highlighted the role of the UK’s supply chain: “Offshore wind’s success has created tens of thousands of skilled jobs, rejuvenated coastal communities and established the UK as a global exporter of expertise. Continued investment is essential to deliver economic growth and energy security over the next twenty-five years.”

Climate

Green hydrogen plant approved for Milford Haven Freeport site

Published

4 days ago

March 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Major investment expected to boost low-carbon industry and create skilled jobs in West Wales

A MAJOR green hydrogen project planned for the Milford Haven Freeport tax site has taken a significant step forward after developers approved the final investment decision.

Energy company MorGen Energy has confirmed it will proceed with the West Wales Hydrogen project, one of the first schemes backed through the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) to reach this stage.

The facility will be built within the Milford Haven Tax Site, part of the Celtic Freeport zone covering Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the plant scheduled to become operational in early 2028.

Once completed, the site is expected to produce around 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen each year, meeting the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

The hydrogen produced will support a range of industries, including port operations, manufacturing and industrial heating, as well as use as a chemical feedstock.

Supporters say the development will help reduce carbon emissions while strengthening Milford Haven’s role in the UK’s emerging hydrogen economy.

The project is also expected to create skilled jobs and provide work for local contractors during the construction phase.

Further expansion may be possible in future phases as demand for hydrogen grows, potentially helping establish Milford Haven as a major hub for low-carbon energy production serving South Wales and beyond.

Luciana Ciubotariu, Chief Executive of Celtic Freeport, said the decision marked another milestone for the region.

She said: “MorGen Energy’s decision is another major step forward for the hydrogen economy in South West Wales.

“Projects like this within the Milford Haven Tax Site show how the Celtic Freeport is accelerating decarbonisation while creating high-value jobs.”

The UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round scheme provides revenue support to help scale up the country’s low-carbon hydrogen sector and bring early projects to market.

Climate

Assault investigation launched after biker gang incident on A48

Published

6 days ago

March 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE appeal for witnesses after man reportedly attacked by group of eight men near Llanddarog junction

Local officers are investigating an alleged assault that took place on the A48 westbound at the Llanddarog junction, before the Nantycaws turn-off, at around 2:30pm on Saturday (Mar 7).

The incident is reported to have involved eight men who had parked Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a lay-by. The group allegedly assaulted a man who was travelling in a car.

The victim sustained moderate injuries and their vehicle was also damaged during the incident.

Anyone with information, or with private CCTV or dashcam footage showing suspicious activity in the area at the time, is asked to contact police in one of the following ways:

Online: https://orlo.uk/KRjzb
Email: [email protected]
Call: 101

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Please quote reference: DP-20260307-227.

Climate

Wind farm proposal in Teifi Valley withdrawn after developer review

Published

1 week ago

March 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Countryside charity welcomes decision but warns over cumulative impact of dozens of schemes across Wales

THE WELSH countryside charity CPRW has welcomed the decision by energy developer Bute Energy to withdraw its planning application for the proposed Nant Ceiment Energy Park in Carmarthenshire.

The scheme would have seen up to thirteen large wind turbines constructed in the Teifi Valley landscape.

Bute Energy confirmed the withdrawal following what it described as a detailed review of environmental, land and commercial factors, concluding that the project was not viable in its current form.

Local residents and campaigners had raised concerns about the potential impact of the turbines and the wider cumulative effect of multiple large wind developments being proposed across rural Wales.

CPRW chairman Jonty Colchester said the decision demonstrated the importance of scrutiny and public engagement during the planning process.

He said: “We welcome the withdrawal of the Nant Ceiment proposal. It shows that careful scrutiny and community engagement matter.

“Wales does need renewable energy, but it must be delivered through a strategic and coordinated approach that fully respects our landscapes, biodiversity and rural communities.”

The charity says it is currently monitoring more than seventy wind energy proposals progressing through the planning system across Wales.

These include major schemes such as Lan Fawr, Banc y Celyn, Gaerwen, Nant Mithil, Mynydd Maen and projects being promoted by the publicly owned developer Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru.

CPRW warned that several developments in south Wales highlight growing concerns about cumulative impact.

Planning decisions are still pending for schemes including Mynydd Maen, proposed by RES, and Trecelyn, promoted by Pennant Walters. Both developments are linked to the recently approved 92-acre Cil-lonydd solar farm.

Further proposals include four turbines at Rhyswg, while hearings are due to consider the Mynydd Llanhilleth scheme, which would involve seven turbines standing up to 180 metres high.

Campaigners say that when these projects are considered together, they raise concerns about the gradual expansion of large-scale energy infrastructure and the potential industrialisation of wide areas of upland Wales.

While supporting the transition to renewable energy, CPRW says it wants to see a more strategic approach to development that balances the need for green power with protection for landscapes, biodiversity and tourism.

The organisation is calling for a national renewables strategy that takes cumulative impacts into account, with greater emphasis placed on offshore wind projects. It is also urging improved transparency and stronger community involvement earlier in the planning process, alongside robust environmental standards to prevent unsuitable developments going ahead.

Further information on onshore wind proposals across Wales is available on the CPRW website.