Global offshore wind project cancellations, suspensions and delays have reached 300 GW, according to new data from Maritime Strategies International. The figures reflect mounting challenges across the USA and Europe, where political and economic factors are undermining planned developments.
In the USA, the sector has been particularly hard hit. The federal government’s decision to temporarily halt all offshore wind leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf has effectively paused new project development. This Executive Order, combined with a weak domestic supply chain, poses a major setback to the industry.
Existing projects are also under pressure. The 1.5 GW Atlantic Shores project—led by Shell—was cancelled in June after its air permit was revoked pending review. In April, Equinor’s Empire Wind project faced a stop-work order from the US Department of the Interior, later lifted in May. These developments have eroded confidence among some investors and developers.
Europe accounts for 60% of the cancelled or suspended capacity. While the region’s offshore wind industry is more mature, it has not escaped the effects of shifting market conditions and regulatory delays. Some of the affected projects are expected to be re-evaluated and re-tendered in future auction rounds.
In contrast, China continues to expand its offshore wind capacity, which now exceeds 40 GW. The government has announced reforms to its power pricing system, moving towards market-based electricity prices with a benchmark mechanism to limit volatility. This is aimed at improving investment stability and attracting new capital to the sector.
