The steel industry is urging the government to choose Britain for offshore wind expansion
The UK steel industry is urging the government to commit to buying British steel as part of the country’s plan to develop offshore wind energy.
Wind power now accounts for almost a third of the UK’s electricity generation, yet less than 2% of the steel used in offshore wind projects over the past five years came from domestic mills, according to experts Lumen Energy & Environment.
The government’s new steel strategy is expected this spring from business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, which aims to increase the UK’s steel production capacity and power against the backdrop of costly decarbonisation pressures. Gareth Stace, chief executive of industry group UK Steel, says prioritizing British-made steel in the UK’s fast-growing offshore wind sector will strengthen domestic supply chains and deliver wider economic benefits.
UK Windfarm steel demand is forecast to top 1m tonnes a year on average from 2026 to 2050, up by more than 2m tonnes—a marked jump from the 300,000 tonnes used annually. Much of the future demand, however, will be for plate steel, which is not produced on a scale in Britain. Industry leaders say investment in new facilities depends on government policies favoring domestic production over imports.
Stace argues that this approach will help reverse the decline of the sector and encourage steelmakers to invest, while recognizing the importance of keeping such large spending in the UK. He called on ministers to consider British steel “automatically” in public procurement decisions.
Government efforts to boost domestic steel include a £2.5bn support package, some of which has been earmarked for projects such as electrifying plants in Port Talbot and Scunthorpe. However, factories assembling turbine components in Newcastle and building monopiles in Teesside still rely on imported steel plate, highlighting the importance of an integrated industrial strategy that boosts the UK’s capacity.
