Offshore wind could churn out enough output to meet at least 25% of the EU’s power needs by the end of the next decade at an average of €54/MWh in the “most favourable locations” off UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and France, according to a new resource assessment produced for industry body WindEurope by BVG Associates and Geospatial Enterprises.

But to reach this target — which is based on fixed foundations and includes grid connection — governments will have to up their game by removing barriers preventing the wider deployment of the technology via national energy, climate and economic development plans, as currently only 7-11% of EU demand will be met by offshore wind by 2030.