UK Offshore Wind Boosts Economy by £3.3B in Eco Science
Public investment in environmental science has helped power the rise of the UK’s offshore wind energy sector, while protecting marine species and habitats.
Offshore wind is an engine of growth for coastal regions and a key growth sector in the government’s industrial strategy.
As of the end of 2024 the UK had 45 operational offshore wind farms. These farms provide 17% of total UK electricity and support 32,000 jobs across the UK, predicted to grow to 100,000 by 2030.
23-fold return
A new study has found that long-term Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding delivered through our research centres has been an important factor in the development of the UK’s offshore wind industry.
It has delivered £3.3 billion in economic value (range: £1 billion to £5.5 billion) via research, data and modelling that is used by all of the sector’s main players. This represents a 23-fold return on NERC’s investment since 2000.
The study estimates that a further £3.6 billion in economic value could be attributed to the NERC funding in future (range: £1 billion to £6.1 billion). This is based on projected offshore wind farm development over the next 25 years.
Beyond economic gains, the investment also helps safeguard the UK’s £211 billion marine natural capital and supports national goals around growth, energy security and biodiversity.
Who benefits?
NERC’s investment delivers economic and environmental benefits to:
government departments: enhanced evidence base that informs policy, regulation and allocation of lease areas developers: reduced costs, delays and risks in securing consent, design, construction and operation investors: de-risking investment decisions statutory nature conservation bodies: enhanced evidence base for environmental impact assessment and identifying mitigation actions local communities: job creation, infrastructure investment UK public: enhanced energy security, lower carbon emissions, improved biodiversity protection Who was involved?
The study found that five NERC-funded research centres have become central to the offshore wind farm development process:
British Geological Survey: detailed mapping and understanding of seabed geology National Oceanography Centre: ocean and tidal models Plymouth Marine Laboratory: ocean front mapping from satellite data Sea Mammal Research Unit: long term seal data and models UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology: long term seabird data and models The study was commissioned by NERC and undertaken by Human Economics and Howell Marine Consulting.
Supporting future growth
NERC continues to work with partners to provide insights to support the sustainable expansion of the UK’s offshore wind industry.
Recent investments include:
ecological consequences of offshore wind (ECOWind), a £9 million research programme joint with The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ecological effects of floating offshore wind (ECOFLOW), a £7 million research programme joint with The Crown Estate
The full report can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NERC-230625-AssessingImpactNERCResearchFundingDevelopmentUKOffshoreWind-FinalSummaryReport.pdf
https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NERC-230625-AssessingImpactNERCResearchFundingDevelopmentUKOffshoreWind-FinalSummaryReport.pdf