The UK has named its first ‘offshore wind champion’ to spearhead efforts to deploy huge fixed-bottom and floating capacity in its waters by 2030.

Tim Pick, a 25-year veteran of advising on project development and former head of energy, resources and infrastructure at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, takes up the role with offshore wind centre-stage in the UK’s new energy security strategy.

Among other duties Pick will lead the UK’s cross-industry Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce (OWAT) as it lays plans to hit 50GW of capacity by 2030, up almost five times on current levels.

The ambitious target and a wider roll-out of floating wind faces several major obstacles, including supply chain availability, consenting timelines and the grid.

Pick said he is “looking forward to energetically supporting the UK's ambitious programme for deployment of fixed bottom and floating offshore wind, including the priorities set out in the new British Energy Security Strategy”.