May 7, 2025

expert reaction to the news that Ørsted are to discontinue the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project in its current form

Scientists comment on Ørsted discontinuing the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project. 

Prof Jun Liang, Professor of Power Electronics and Power Networks, Cardiff University, said:

What does this mean for the UK’s net zero by 2030 aim?

“This development undoubtedly impacts the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, as renewable energy—particularly offshore wind power from the North Sea—is a key driver in achieving this goal.  While the discontinuation of a single offshore wind farm due to an isolated issue may not be catastrophic, the underlying reasons behind this decision raise significant concerns.  If these challenges reflect broader systemic issues, they could have far-reaching implications for other similar projects, potentially hindering progress toward the 2030 target.

Is there anything the government can do to encourage projects like this?

“Although the UK government seems to be not doing anything wrong directly towards this wind farm development, the government must take proactive measures to address supply chain challenges and prevent further project cancellations.  While we recognise the broader economic pressures facing the UK—including global trade uncertainties—sustained focus on economic growth is essential to strengthen investment capacity and build a resilient supply chain.  The challenges facing offshore wind projects, such as Hornsea 4, are not isolated incidents but rather symptoms of the current economic climate.  Without decisive intervention, similar setbacks could jeopardize the UK’s renewable energy ambitions.

Is this a blow to the UK’s renewable energy efforts – what else do we have; was this a significant part of it or is there still plenty more?

“Based on available information, the discontinuation of this offshore wind project does not appear to stem from inherent issues in renewable energy development—such as turbine technology, transmission infrastructure, or grid capacity.  Instead, broader economic and supply chain challenges seem to be the primary drivers.

“While offshore wind is a cornerstone of the UK’s renewable energy strategy, other sources—such as onshore wind and solar PV—remain critical.  However, these sectors may face similar supply chain constraints, as the root cause lies in macroeconomic pressures rather than sector-specific limitations.  The key question is whether the UK can mitigate these systemic risks to sustain progress across all renewable energy avenues.”

Prof John Loughhead, Industrial Professor of Clean Energy, University of Birmingham, said:

“This is certainly a significant setback to the Government’s ambitions for a rapid increase in offshore wind capacity.  Hornsea 4 represented about 10% of the planned increase to meet its aggressive 2030 low carbon electricity targets, and as it has been in development since 2018 it’s very unlikely an alternative could be identified and delivered within that timescale.  Achieving the 2030 targets has become even more challenging.  It appears a combination of supply chain inflation and delivery challenges meant the project became economically unattractive given the CfD price agreed with Government only last September, which also suggests future offshore wind will need a higher guaranteed price than foreseen.”

https://orsted.com/en/company-announcement-list/2025/05/orsted-to-discontinue-the-hornsea-4-offshore-wind–143901911

Declared interests

Prof Jun Liang: “No interests to declare.”

Prof John Loughhead: “No interests to declare.”