On 23 June, the UK voted to leave the European Union. The decision rocked global markets, sent the pound tumbling and plunged Europe’s economic and political future into a wave of uncertainty. As the dust settles, the WindEurope Summit looks at what a UK outside the EU will mean for the deployment of wind energy and the prospects for the industry at-large.

The UK has been a market of mixed fortunes for wind energy in recent years. The onshore wind market is still reeling from abrupt cutbacks to support imposed by the last government. The changes mean that onshore wind deployment is likely to grind to a halt in 2016 and beyond as investor confidence dwindles and developers look elsewhere.

The story for offshore wind couldn’t be more different. Record investment and a series of large-scale projects mean the UK is a top destination for offshore wind development globally with over €10 billion of new capacity financed in the first six months of 2016. The previous Conservative government committed to three more auctions (CfDs) by 2020, assuming the industry meets its cost reduction targets. Policymakers have also outlined plans to add 1GW of offshore wind a year toward 2030.

In this session, the WindEurope Summit will bring together industry, lawmakers and experts to discuss the implications of the Brexit vote for onshore and offshore wind in the UK. Participants will provide brief opening statements followed by a panel discussion and questions for the audience.  

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