The United Kingdom is accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, driven by strong policy support, large-scale offshore wind expansion, and sustained investment in solar PV and biopower. The country’s cumulative renewable power capacity is projected to reach 172.7 GW by 2035, up from 61 GW recorded in 2024. This reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% for the period 2024–2035, according to GlobalData.

GlobalData’s latest report, “United Kingdom (UK) Power Market Trends and Analysis by Capacity, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Regulations, Key Players and Forecast to 2035,” highlights that wind energy will remain the leading force in the UK's renewable expansion. Offshore wind capacity is expected to increase significantly, rising from 15.8 GW in 2024 to nearly 58.3 GW by 2035. This growth is encouraged by the Clean Power 2030 mission, successive Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction rounds, and major grid expansion projects across the North Sea.

The UK currently holds one of the world’s largest offshore wind pipelines, supported further by emerging floating wind developments, port infrastructure upgrades, and manufacturing localization across regions such as Teesside, Humber and Scotland.

Onshore wind capacity is also forecast to expand, growing from 16.2 GW in 2024 to 31.7 GW in 2035. This trend is reinforced by the government’s decision to remove previous planning restrictions and accelerate approvals for repowering and hybridization projects. Meanwhile, solar PV capacity is set to rise from 20.2 GW in 2024 to 68.4 GW in 2035, boosted by utility-scale projects backed by the CfD scheme, the development of commercial rooftop installations, and community energy initiatives. Biopower will continue to provide system stability, increasing from 8.4 GW to 13.8 GW over the same period, supported by circular economy strategies and waste-to-energy sustainability policies.

Mohammed Ziauddin, Power Analyst at GlobalData, states that the UK’s clean energy progress is underpinned by a robust policy framework including the CfD mechanism, the Clean Power 2030 mission, and the broader Net Zero Strategy—factors that provide long-term investment confidence. Additionally, large infrastructure programs, such as National Grid’s £35 billion ($44.4 billion) transmission upgrade plan and the Eastern Green Links offshore transmission corridor, are facilitating renewable integration and improving regional energy balancing.

The report also notes that nuclear capacity is expected to decline from 5.9 GW in 2024 to around 4.1 GW by 2035, while gas-fired power generation will continue to play a key role in ensuring system reliability and balancing variable renewable output. Gas plants are expected to remain important for peak demand management and security of supply, particularly as storage and hydrogen capacity gradually scale up.

However, the UK government continues to support low-carbon baseload projects, including the £14.2 billion ($19.1 billion) investment in Sizewell C and the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) under the Great British Nuclear program.

“Offshore wind will be the centerpiece of the UK’s clean energy expansion, supported by record investment, policy stability, and grid modernization,” Ziauddin concludes. With solar, onshore wind, and biopower also contributing to diversification, the country is positioned to continue its progress toward a low-carbon power system and achieve its 2050 net-zero target.