A new report from RenewableUK has put forward key recommendations aimed at extending the operational lifespan of the UK’s offshore wind farms and improving decommissioning strategies as several early projects near the end of their life.
The report, titled “Developing Effective End-of-Life Policy Frameworks for UK Offshore Wind”, highlights the risk of losing 5GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035, which would account for a third of the UK’s total offshore wind capacity. The report stresses that clear policies are needed to enable the extension of offshore wind farm lifespans and to maximize the value from existing projects.
Nick Hibberd, RenewableUK’s policy manager and co-author of the report, noted, “We have a great opportunity to strengthen the UK’s energy security by leveraging existing offshore wind infrastructure – either by extending the lifespan of existing projects or by repowering sites with modern state-of-the-art models.” Hibberd added, “Instead of losing offshore wind capacity, we could potentially increase it,” stressing that clearer policy on lifespan extension and repowering could help the UK meet its climate goals.
The report also advocates for exploring options such as extending lease agreements for existing projects and revising decommissioning guidelines to address the growing complexities of offshore wind farm operations. According to RenewableUK, a coordinated approach to both extending the lifespan and repowering existing sites would help maintain and potentially expand the country’s offshore wind capacity, a critical part of its clean energy future.
Co-author Friederike Andres, also a policy manager at RenewableUK, pointed out, “Policy attention is rightly focusing on building new offshore wind farms. However, with originally anticipated average lifespans of 20 to 25 years, the UK’s earliest offshore wind farms are currently entering their final lifespan stage.” Andres stressed the importance of clear leadership from governments and regulators in addressing the complex challenges of decommissioning, while ensuring the best outcomes for both the environment and the industry.
