A new comprehensive action plan aims to maximise Wales’ offshore wind potential and secure long-term economic benefits.
A task and finish group, established earlier this year, brought together the collective effort of sector leads across Wales – covering developers, ports, manufacturing and skills.
Their aim was to identify what needs to be done in partnership with the Crown Estate, industry and social partners to secure lasting economic and social value to Wales.
Wales has been at the forefront of offshore wind projects, hosting the first fixed offshore wind developments in North Wales.
Today, Wales has a significant pipeline of more than 15 GW of offshore wind projects around its coastline, in Welsh, English and Irish waters.
The sector represents a significant opportunity with the prospect of £4.8bn for Welsh businesses and over 3,000 jobs.
Announcing the new action plan during Wind Week, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said she wanted to ‘drive forward the renewable energy revolution, ensuring that Wales remains at the forefront’:
“Last week, we welcomed the announcement that offshore wind in the Celtic Sea was moving from planning into development and delivery.
“With two successful bidders announced to develop three gigawatts of clean energy, and a clear commitment from the Crown Estate to deliver the full 4.5GW, we see the start of billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs.
“All the evidence shows the strategic importance of local ports to the developers of offshore wind projects, and I am delighted the UK Government confirmed up to £80m in the Spending Review to kickstart the investment in the port at Port Talbot.
“This truly is a once in a generation opportunity for our ports and will be a catalyst for economic regeneration in our coastal communities.”
Coordinated by Tim Pick, former UK Offshore Wind Champion, the task and finish group has now set out key recommendations, including:
- Establishing a forum by autumn 2025 where project developers, government, and other key partners to enable better coordination between stakeholders, helping to maximise local benefits from new wind farms in the Celtic Sea.
- Streamlining the planning and consent process, reducing delays and providing developers with a clear roadmap of requirements through improved coordination between parties to significantly accelerate project timelines and reduce costs.
- Implementing targeted support for Welsh businesses to enter the offshore wind supply chain, with particular focus on connecting SMEs with larger companies to transform this untapped potential into actual business opportunities, particularly in areas of existing strength like project management and engineering.
- Coordinating skills development initiatives across educational institutions to address the sector-specific skills gap in areas like wind turbine technology and high-voltage electrical engineering so local communities can access the high-quality jobs created.
- Integrating the Welsh steel and concrete sectors with offshore wind development, particularly for floating offshore wind foundations and substructures
Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain for RenewableUK, said:
“We are pleased to see clear, practical actions that respond directly to industry calls for greater certainty, stronger collaboration, and urgent delivery.
“Offshore wind is one of the UK’s greatest industrial opportunities — with the potential to transform Wales’ heartland sectors, like steel and advanced manufacturing.
“Over the next decade alone, £32 billion in economic value is at stake, including a £4.8 billion opportunity for Welsh businesses and 3,370 well-paid jobs.
“To unlock that value, we must now move swiftly from planning to implementation — and industry stands ready to work with government to make it happen.”
