First Read: European Utilities "Global Offshore Wind conference feedback..."

Research evidence excerpt

First Read: European Utilities "Global Offshore Wind conference feedback..."

Global Research

19 June 2026ab

First Read

EquitiesEuropean Utilities

Global Offshore Wind conference feedback Europe including UK

Utilities

Mark Freshney

Bottom line: Positive Analyst

We attended the Global Offshore Wind trade fair in Manchester this week. We spoke in- mark.freshney@ubs.com

depth to 11 vessel owners, equipment manufacturers, consultants and developers. The +44-20-7568 3989

overall tone was that wind is building back from a low ebb following cancellations in the Christopher Leonard

past four years. The North Sea summit pledge of 15GW p.a. through 2030-40 was only Analyst

mentioned once in our meetings which gives confidence on discipline. One consultant chris.leonard@ubs.com

indicated activity has bounced off the bottom. We are positive on the renewables utility +44-20-7568 3958

subsector, as well as Nexans, Prysmian and Siemens Energy. Christabel Kelly

Analyst

Standardisation of turbine sizes observed christabel.kelly@ubs.com

+44-20-7568 2358

There has been a shift away from 'bigger is better' as turbines standardised in the 14-

16MW range is now the sweet spot. The view from several meetings was that this can Gonzalo Sanchez-Bordona

drive down the LCOE (levelised cost of energy) over time, and the supply chain benefits Analyst

gonzalo.sanchez-bordona@ubs.com

via: 1) Improved manufacturing efficiency, 2) Certainty for vessels and installation

+34-91-745 4147

planning on turbine sizes, 3) Reduced complexity across foundations, inter-array cables,

and logistics. There is also potential for Chinese supply to enter the market which could Wanda Serwinowska, CFA

drop LCOEs by ~15%, but political resistance remains (see next point). Analyst

wanda.serwinowska@ubs.com

+44-20-7568 3980