AR7 success is only the starting line for UK offshore wind
Ørsted warns execution, grid delivery and supply chain coordination now critical to meeting 2030 goals
Last month’s Allocation Round 7 (AR7) results underline the scale of momentum behind Britain’s offshore wind sector, with more than 8GW of Contracts for Difference (CfD) capacity awarded on top of the 16.6GW already generating and a further 11.7GW under construction.
The outcome represents another step toward a cleaner and more secure energy system. But CfDs are only the beginning: the industry must now deliver projects on time and on budget while continuing to build a robust future pipeline.
If recent years have demonstrated anything, it is that the sector’s twin priorities must be to rapidly deliver reliable, good-value renewable power for consumers and to maintain an end-to-end system that gives developers confidence to bid competitively in future auctions.
Major UK projects already in construction — including Hornsea 3, East Anglia 3, Sofia and the A, B and C zones of Dogger Bank — highlight both the scale of opportunity and the growing complexity of delivery.
At Ørsted, the company acknowledges it is not immune to industry pressures. The developer previously made the difficult decision to return Hornsea 4 Offshore Wind Farm to development, reinforcing the point that winning a CfD is not the finish line.
Focus turns to execution
Looking ahead, the £8.5bn Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm is expected to make a significant contribution to UK energy security. Onshore works are progressing and offshore construction is scheduled to begin this year.
Delivering projects of this scale depends on tight integration between developers and supply chains. Hornsea 3 alone involves multiple specialist suppliers, including cable providers Prysmian Group and Hellenic Cables, cable protection from Balmoral Group, and monopile fabrication from Dajin Heavy Industry, EEW Group, Haizea Wind Group and Steelwind Nordenham.
Using multiple suppliers helps manage schedule risk, but it also illustrates the number of moving parts involved in modern offshore wind delivery.
Beyond the supply chain
Risks extend beyond manufacturing and installation. Moving projects from CfD award to commercial operation requires reliable grid connections, timely consenting and stable policy frameworks.
Industry welcomed the National Energy System Operator’s Connections Reform proposals, but delays to implementation are creating uncertainty for projects due online in the next few years.
Delivering national infrastructure such as offshore wind farms depends on a complex ecosystem — spanning planning, grid, supply chain and community engagement — all functioning predictably and on schedule. Any slippage can introduce additional cost and risk.
A pivotal period ahead
With the UK targeting 95% clean power by 2030, the next 12 months will be critical in determining whether the country can maintain its global offshore wind leadership.
AR7 has reinforced Britain’s strong position, but the sector’s long-term success will depend on turning awarded contracts into operating assets — reliably, efficiently and at scale.
