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Wind Power Generation in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

John Griffin John Griffin London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC SP0.042

Revenue

£5.4bn

2024-25

£5.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

4,172

Businesses

33

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Wind Power Generation in the UK industry analysis

Wind power is a rapidly growing force in UK electricity generation, with the number and size of UK wind farms surging in recent years. As the UK strives for net-zero emissions, abundant natural resources make wind energy the highest yielding option. Government support for renewables has boosted investment in wind-generating assets, with most of the capacity expansion coming from offshore wind. According to government data, the share of electricity generated from wind power increased from 23.2% in 2019-20 to 31.5% in 2023-24.

Trends and Insights

  • Some generators benefit from soaring wholesale prices. Generators not subject to regulated prices have gained from rocketing energy prices.
  • The government has ramped up support for offshore wind. It has committed to an annual budget of £200 million to boost generation capacity towards its target of 50 gigawatts by 2030.
  • Scotland is a world leader in wind energy. It has high average wind speeds and plentiful available land, making it an ideal location to establish onshore wind-generating operations.
  • Competition from non-renewable generation sources has dipped. Efforts to decarbonise the UK's energy supply have upped wind energy generating capacity and wind power has become increasingly price competitive.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 7.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £5.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Offshore wind takes the lead in UK's renewables drive

  • Fuelled by public-sector support for renewables, the UK's wind generating capacity increased from 24.3 gigawatts in 2019-20 to 30.3 gigawatts at the end of 2023-24.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Wind Power Generation in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Pipeline developments to maintain UK as world leader

  • Projects awarded Contracts for Difference (CfD) in recent auctions are set to add to wind generating capacity in the coming years. This includes the three-phases of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm and the remaining two phases of the Hornsea Project, which were allocated almost 3.4GW capacity in the sixth CfD allocation round.

Biggest companies in the Wind Power Generation in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Orsted Power (UK) Ltd
1,574.6
RWE Generation UK Plc
1,344.3
Scottish Power UK plc
1,331.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Wind Power Generation in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Offshore wind power, Onshore wind power and Floating offshore wind power. Offshore wind power is the largest segment of the Wind Power Generation in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Offshore wind is making waves in the UK energy sector

  • Offshore wind farms are located in bodies of water and assembled on fixed foundations.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in the Wind Power Generation industry operate wind farms across the UK. Wind farms contain wind-operated turbines that generate electricity for consumers from a renewable energy resource.

What's included in this industry?

Offshore wind powerOnshore wind powerFloating offshore wind power

Companies

Orsted Power (UK) LtdRWE Generation UK PlcScottish Power UK plc

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

STRIKE PRICESRENEWABLESINSTALLED CAPACITY

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 35.11 - Wind Power Generation in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Some generators benefit from soaring wholesale prices. Generators not subject to regulated prices have gained from rocketing energy prices.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The government has ramped up support for offshore wind. It has committed to an annual budget of £200 million to boost generation capacity towards its target of 50 gigawatts b...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Scotland is a world leader in wind energy. It has high average wind speeds and plentiful available land, making it an ideal location to establish onshore wind-generating oper...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition from non-renewable generation sources has dipped. Efforts to decarbonise the UK's energy supply have upped wind energy generating capacity and wind power has beco...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Orsted's Hornsea Project 3 and 4 will cement the company's dominance. The project was allocated almost 3.4GW capacity in the sixth CfD allocation round.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Orsted Power (UK) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of RWE Generation UK Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Scottish Power UK plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Orsted Power (UK) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for RWE Generation UK Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Scottish Power UK plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Incentives to invest in renewable technologies have aided revenue. The government encourages wind power, pushed to meet the Climate Change Act target for the UK to be net zer...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Locked-in higher regulated prices limit profit margins. Most generation assets are subject to regulated prices, meaning that profitability is largely independent of wholesale...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £5.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 33 businesses in the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 7.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Wind Power Generation in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Wind Power Generation market in United Kingdom are Orsted Power (UK) Ltd, RWE Generation UK Plc and Scottish Power UK plc

What does the Wind Power Generation in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Offshore wind power and Onshore wind power are part of the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Wind Power Generation in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Orsted Power (UK) Ltd.

How competitive is the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Wind Power Generation in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Biomass Electricity Generation in the UK
  • Electricity Production in the UK

Complementors

  • Electricity Production in the UK
  • Electricity Transmission in the UK
  • Electricity Distribution in the UK
  • Electricity Supply in the UK
  • Renewable Electricity Generation in the UK

International industries

  • Wind Power in the US
  • Wind and Other Electricity Generation in Australia
  • Geothermal, Wind and Other Electricity Generation in New Zealand
  • Wind Power in China

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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