Offshore wind at a crossroads: Cost, confidence and the future of net zero

First published by Energy Voice on 8 June 2026.

Offshore wind is a crucial part of the UK’s net zero ambitions as a viable means of achieving ambitious national decarbonisation and growing energy demand. Against a backdrop of uncertain energy security and diverse views on its place, RSK Group Renewables Director Kit Hawkins explores why offshore can, and will, provide the UK with affordable and secure energy resources.

Offshore wind sits at the heart of the UK’s route to net zero, offering scale, energy security and the potential for long-term price stability. However, recent cost pressures have exposed a simple truth – net zero will only succeed if it is affordable, investable and clearly beneficial to the consumer. Therefore, reducing the cost of offshore wind is not just an industry challenge but central to rebuilding public confidence in the energy transition.

Energy has been forced into the political spotlight by geopolitics, and the choice of where energy comes from is becoming increasingly politicised. But it needn’t be this way.

The cost per unit of offshore wind has fallen significantly. Under the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) regime, revenues often exceeded £200 per MWh during high-price periods. This plummeted to a strike price of £120 per MWh in the first Contracts for Difference (CFD) auction in 2015, decreasing further to £91 per MWh in January 2026’s AR7. This makes offshore wind competitive with other power sources – the onshore wind strike price sits at £92 per MWh and solar at £75. Offshore wind is also competitive against the cost to build and operate new gas-fired plants, being approximately 40% lower than the government’s cited £147 per MWh.

But how do we continue to reduce the cost of offshore wind while reducing bills and delivering security of supply?

The first lever is scale and standardisation. Offshore wind has already demonstrated dramatic cost reduction through larger turbines, repeatable designs and industrialised delivery. The next phase must build on this by standardising foundations, electrical systems and procurement. Reducing bespoke engineering lowers capital cost, shortens development timelines and improves investor confidence. A good analogy is the Ford Model T; when first introduced in 1908, the average car cost around $1500 (twice the average American family income). However, the Model T started at $850 and dropped to $260 by 1925, making motoring accessible and sparking our love affair with the internal combustion engine.

Secondly, in the UK, grid and planning reform must unlock value faster. Delays to grid connections and consenting add cost and uncertainty before a single turbine is installed. The 2008 Planning Act was intended to streamline Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP); however, as of 2026, the time for an offshore wind farm to obtain consent is in the order of 2 to 4 years – not much different to the previous Section 36 regime!

The complexity stems from the need to balance renewable energy development with environmental protection and stakeholder engagement. Streamlined marine planning, effective strategic environmental assessment and anticipatory grid investment can remove these friction points. Every year shaved off delivery schedules reduces financing costs and helps new capacity reach consumers earlier, when it is needed most.

Ultimately, it comes down to desire – do we want to lower energy costs and secure supply?

This is a strategic decision for the UK that needs to be disengaged from the political process; energy should be considered over long time frames, of 20 years plus, not the 5-year cycle we currently have for general elections.

Additionally, supply chain resilience is critical, as recent events have shown the risk of relying on international supply chains. Investing in UK manufacturing, ports and fabrication reduces currency exposure, transport risk and programme delays. A strong domestic supply chain supports competition, skills development and long-term employment, allowing offshore wind at lower costs while creating much-needed economic benefits in coastal communities. Part of the oft-cited criticism of renewables is that the promised job creation has not been forthcoming.

Cheaper offshore wind alone is not enough to make net zero appealing. Consumers care about bills and reliability, not installed capacity. To address this, we integrate a smarter, more flexible system, with greater use of battery storage, demand-side flexibility and time-of-use, which will allow the displacement of gas more effectively, reducing exposure to volatile international markets. When consumers are rewarded for shifting demand, they will rightly see the direct financial benefit from renewables.

Finally, clarity of messaging matters. Net zero is too often framed as a cost, rather than an opportunity. Offshore wind underpins a future energy system that is cleaner, more secure and cheaper. Making this visible through stable pricing, better consumer tariffs and local economic impact will help turn net zero from an abstract policy goal into a tangible household benefit.

Reducing offshore wind costs and making net zero attractive to the general householder are inseparable. By combining industrial scale, supply chain investment, planning reform and consumer-centric system design, offshore wind – and, more widely, renewables – will deliver not just a cleaner energy future but also a compelling economic and social case for the energy transition.

Kit Hawkins is renewables director at RSK Group and began his career in the wind sector almost 20 years ago. He has held a number of senior roles within the project development and consenting sector and has served on both national and international offshore wind steering and advisory groups.