Welsh wind power pipeline 2025

RenewableUK EnergyPulse report - October 2025

Executive summary 

The overall pipeline for Welsh wind projects (operational, under construction, consented, in planning or under development) is currently 12.2GW. This is up from 10.7GW in late 2024. The onshore wind portfolio potential has increased by 29% in the last year, from 4,592MW in November 2024 to 5,907MW in October 2025. The largest portfolios for onshore wind remains in Mid and Southeast Wales.

Offshore wind makes up 52% of the Welsh total portfolio, with the largest pipeline of projects in the Celtic Sea. In the Celtic Sea Project Development Areas (PDA) 1 and 2 are both considered in this report as National Grid ESO’s design plan launched in August 2024 proposes connecting 3GW of capacity into South Wales.

Leasing Round 5 completed in 2025, awarded PDA 1 to EDF and ESB. Despite PDA 2 currently remaining un-leased after it was not awarded in Round 5, it is still being considered by The Crown Estate and therefore is included in this report.

A detailed description of the EnergyPulse methodology is at the end of this report. Data is as researched to 12 September 2025.

Foreword by Jess Hooper, Director of RenewableUK Cymru

This has been a defining year for Wales' renewable energy sector. We’ve seen real momentum — with Leasing Round 5 confirming two sites for development, NESO advancing work on grid connections and strategic energy planning, and the Welsh Government’s Offshore Wind Action Plan setting a clear framework for growth. Alongside this, progress towards a sector deal between Government and industry demonstrates a shared commitment to unlocking faster delivery and greater economic impact.

The scale of the opportunity is striking. Over the next decade, clean energy and decarbonisation projects could deliver 8,000 well-paid, secure jobs and a £9 billion boost to the Welsh economy. The data in this report reinforces that potential — our pipeline of projects continues to grow year on year, particularly in onshore wind. Yet delivery on the ground remains too slow. Renewables now provide more than 50% of the UK’s electricity, but in Wales we’re at around 33%. That gap must close if we are serious about capturing the opportunity for our industry, businesses and communities from a secure, clean energy future.

The barriers are clear. Grid constraints and an uneven flow of planning consents continue to slow progress. Overcoming these challenges is essential if we are to turn ambition into delivery. At the same time, the economic opportunity is huge: by scaling up our industrial capability and supply chain, Welsh businesses could secure up to £10 billion from the current pipeline. This depends on long-overdue investment in infrastructure, particularly in our ports and grid network. For the first time, this report includes an Offshore Wind Supply Chain Opportunity section, highlighting where and when these benefits could be realised.

With the elections and a Welsh investment summit approaching, the choices made in the coming year will be decisive for our energy future. The direction of policy — and the confidence it inspires among investors — will determine whether Wales can truly compete within the UK and beyond. As England and Scotland move swiftly to attract green investment and accelerate delivery, Wales faces a growing challenge: to be seen as investable, agile, and ambitious in a shifting political landscape.

Clear, long-term commitments to infrastructure, planning reform, and industrial strategy will be essential to signal that Wales is open for business and ready to lead. Without that clarity, investment risks drifting elsewhere.

Now is the time for bold choices. Together, Government and industry must demonstrate that Wales not only has the ambition, but the means and momentum, to deliver — securing the jobs, supply chains, and prosperity that a clean energy future demands.