Enough electricity to power two cities the size of London will be unlocked through the Government’s new Marine Recovery Fund.
The landmark initiative is designed to protect Britain’s marine biodiversity while fast‑tracking the expansion of offshore wind, securing the UK’s long-term clean energy future.
The Marine Recovery Fund will allow offshore wind developers to contribute to a government‑run environmental funding pot, which will deliver large‑scale compensatory measures to restore and protect marine habitats. This strategic approach is expected to significantly reduce delays in the consenting process for new wind farms — a key barrier to offshore wind expansion in recent years.
Britain’s seas host some of the world’s most remarkable marine species, including seabirds, dolphins, porpoises and vital fish populations. The new fund will help extend existing Marine Protected Areas and designate new ones, safeguarding precious seabed habitats.
Future environmental measures are expected to include:
- Controlling invasive species such as rats on islands to protect seabird colonies.
- Creating offshore artificial nesting structures for kittiwakes.
- Wider interventions to boost marine wildlife and support nature recovery at scale.
By pooling contributions from developers, the fund will enable coordinated, strategic environmental action rather than fragmented, site‑specific projects — delivering stronger ecological outcomes across the UK’s seas.
The new Marine Recovery Fund will unlock up to 19 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity in the near term. This will deliver the homegrown, affordable energy required to meet the Government’s ambition for clean power by 2030, reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets and bolstering national energy security.
Offshore wind is central to the Government’s Plan for Change, supporting industrial revival and generating thousands of jobs across coastal communities and former industrial heartlands.
By establishing pre‑approved environmental compensation measures, the fund will:
- Streamline planning and reduce lengthy case‑by‑case negotiations.
- Speed up consenting decisions for new offshore wind farms.
- Provide developers with clarity and confidence to invest at scale.
Ministers say the fund marks a major step forward in creating a planning and environmental regime that simultaneously accelerates renewable energy growth and restores marine ecosystems.
Marine Minister Emma Hardy commented:
“We’re building the next generation of clean, homegrown power and boosting marine life through the Marine Recovery Fund.
“Offshore wind is pivotal to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and driving growth as part of our Plan for Change. Driving nature recovery and protecting the ecosystems that call Britain’s seas home is not a trade-off against clean energy, but a condition of delivery.
“This approach creates a win-win by unlocking clean power through faster decisions and protecting our seas and extraordinary wildlife.”
With both nature recovery and energy security at its core, the Marine Recovery Fund is set to play a vital role in powering the UK’s clean energy transition while protecting the rich wildlife of Britain’s seas for generations to come.
Image credit: iStock
