Image credit: GWEC
26/03/2026 | Offshore wind
New North Sea offshore wind leasing round will boost UK’s energy security and create job opportunities
26 March 2026 - RenewableUK press release
Commenting on The Crown Estate’s announcement that it will launch a new leasing round for offshore wind projects next year (Leasing Round 6), aiming to secure around 6 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity in the North Sea, RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:
“Current events in the Middle East show just how important it is to base our future energy system on homegrown power generated in UK waters. The North Sea has become an offshore wind powerhouse, strengthening our energy security, controlling the cost of energy and moving us towards energy independence. This new leasing round for projects off the north east coast of England will open up a significant amount of new capacity to the UK’s energy system – enough to power more than six million homes.
“These new projects will create fresh opportunities for businesses based all over the UK to provide the high-tech components and services needed to build vast new offshore wind farms, creating highly-skilled jobs and vital economic growth, including offshore wind centres of excellence around Blyth, Newcastle and Sunderland which will benefit from the private investment and regeneration that this new leasing round will bring to the UK.
“We look forward to The Crown Estate launching their Marine Delivery Routemap which will create visibility of a pipeline of future opportunities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for example in the Celtic Sea, to maximize the amount of investment we can secure in the UK’s world class offshore wind sector”.
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For further information, contact
Robert Norris, Head of Communications
07969 229 913 | Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com
RenewableUK is the voice of the UK’s renewable energy industry. Representing close to 500 companies spanning the full supply chain, our members develop, operate and maintain the UK's wind, tidal, storage and flexibility infrastructure. By connecting industry and policy makers, we strengthen the UK’s global leadership in renewables, building a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.