The UK risks missing offshore wind targets because of infrastructure bottlenecks, according to a report by the Energy Industries Council (EIC)
Despite a UK project pipeline totalling 96.4 GW (51% floating), only 43 GW – including just 818 MW of floating capacity – is achievable by the 2030 deadline, the EIC stated. Only seven projects, out of 82, have reached final investment decisions (FID).
The EIC’sUK & Europe Offshore Wind report flags severe infrastructure and supply chain constraints across the continent that directly affect UK delivery. It says similar issues could cause EU targets to be missed, but steps are being taken to address them.
Out of about 80 specialist installation vessels operational in Europe, only five can handle 14-15-MW turbines, a Europe-wide limitation that impacts UK projects competing for the same assets.
Port expansions require six to ten years from permit to operation, clashing directly with project timelines. FIDs and port capacity must align with auctions to land 2030 numbers, as UK projects now hinge on commitments with ports, grid and the supply chain.
The EIC also found that the UK’s future Allocation Round 8 (AR8), due to take place in 2026, is too late for 2030 delivery, and the current round (AR7), with results due from December 2025 to February 2026, cannot bridge the gap.
As the report also noted, a UK offshore wind decommissioning wave is projected to start mid-next decade. Notable retirements include RWE’s Scroby Sands (2027–2031) and, later, London Array (175 turbines) toward 2038. RWE’s Scroby Sands windfarm, an early-generation project off Great Yarmouth, is scheduled for retirement between 2027 and 2031. This has the potential to add a further strain on ports and other supporting infrastructure already under pressure from new builds.
The UK’s infrastructure crunch mirrors broader European challenges as the continent pursues its own 411-GW offshore pipeline across 386 projects (37% floating). About 84% of these European projects remain in planning or feasibility stages. Most additions will come post-2030 as projects scale to multi-gigawatt size.
The EU is, however, taking steps to unblock bottlenecks and speed build-out, based on the use of three levers, including the Wind Power Package, the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), and the Clean Industrial Deal. The focus is on faster permits, auction reform, and access to finance.
Under the NZIA, at least 30% of annual auctioned capacity must be awarded on non-price criteria, meaning projects are judged not only on cost but also on factors such as supply chain resilience, sustainability, innovation and job creation. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €6.5Bn (US$7.6Bn) in counter-guarantees for wind manufacturers and €250M for mid-sized green manufacturing, with port upgrades at Esbjerg, Cuxhaven, Cork and Bilbao in scope.
“The numbers tell a simple story, which is that Europe has scale in the pipeline, but delivery hinges on ports, vessels, auctions and faster investment decisions. Where those align, capacity arrives. Where they don’t, targets slip,” said EIC market intelligence manager and report co-author, Sharanya Kumaramurthy.
EIC global head of external affairs Rebecca Groundwater said, “Policy must lock in a predictable run of work and enable supply-chain finance. Use non-price criteria well, accelerate port upgrades, and keep capital flowing through EIB and national tools. That’s how Europe converts a 411-GW pipeline into steel in the water.
“The UK is aiming for 55 GW by 2030, but the current pipeline points to 43 GW at best – with just seven projects at FID and key sites like Scroby Sands and the London Array heading for retirement, the focus has to be on getting new capacity to shore before the decade is out,” she concluded.
