World Bank’s 2025 Blueprint: Building Successful Offshore Wind in Emerging Markets

The World Bank’s 2025 report outlines a four-pillar roadmap strategy, policy, frameworks, and delivery for emerging markets to successfully develop offshore wind power. It emphasizes long-term planning, investment-friendly policies, and international standards to unlock clean energy, jobs, and economic growth.

In April 2025, the World Bank released a powerful update to its landmark report produced in collaboration with the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), BVG Associates, and engineering firm Arup, the report offers a rich and actionable framework for governments in developing countries seeking to harness the power of offshore wind. It builds on more than two decades of global expertise and field-tested knowledge, incorporating fresh case studies, technological advancements, and policy trends. The report comes at a pivotal time, just as the world accelerates toward the collective goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as pledged at COP28.

This renewed focus on offshore wind reflects its growing potential to help countries decarbonize their energy systems, boost economic resilience, and unlock large-scale job creation. Traditionally concentrated in regions like the North Sea and coastal China, offshore wind is now gaining serious momentum in emerging markets. With wind resources offshore often stronger and more stable than on land, the technology is becoming an attractive proposition for countries grappling with volatile fuel import prices, surging demand, and climate vulnerability. Since 2019, the World Bank’s Offshore Wind Development Program has provided technical and strategic support to 26 countries, including Brazil, Vietnam, South Africa, and the Philippines. In just five years, the offshore wind capacity included in national energy plans has risen from zero to more than 500 GW.

Strategy First: Is Offshore Wind Right for You?

The report encourages governments to begin their journey with a fundamental question: “Should we develop offshore wind?” The answer lies in each country's unique mix of natural resources, energy demand patterns, and economic priorities. Offshore wind, while capital-intensive upfront, is a long-term asset. It offers high capacity factors, predictable output, and insulation from the price swings of fossil fuels. It also complements other renewables like solar and hydropower, enhancing grid stability. Strategic benefits include reduced reliance on imports, potential for green hydrogen production, and opportunities for regional power export.

Case studies from Brazil and California demonstrate how offshore wind's seasonal generation profile can help stabilize power systems dependent on hydro or solar. In the UK, a 12-year shift away from coal to wind dominance marked by policy consistency and public-private cooperation stands as a compelling model. Offshore wind also ranks among the most job-intensive forms of renewable energy, generating roughly 25 jobs per US$1 million invested, more than solar PV or fossil fuel projects. It is also one of the cleanest sources of power in lifecycle emissions and uses no water during operations, making it ideal for regions facing water stress or environmental degradation.

From Vision to Reality: The Power of Policy

Once the strategic case is established, governments must follow through with bold and credible policies. The report recommends setting clear long-term deployment targets, supported by legislation and regular procurement mechanisms such as auctions or feed-in tariffs. Stability and predictability are key: developers and investors need to know that markets will remain open and rules won’t shift abruptly. Without this confidence, capital and expertise will flow elsewhere.

The United Kingdom offers a strong case for how policy can drive cost reduction and market development. Through Contracts for Difference, strategic roadmaps, and a collaborative approach to setting price targets, the UK cut its offshore wind costs by more than 70 percent in a decade. On the other hand, countries like France and Taiwan initially imposed rigid local content rules that inadvertently raised costs, reduced competition, and delayed project rollouts. The report urges a more flexible, market-driven approach to supply chain localization.

Building Blocks: Frameworks That Work

Good policy is only as effective as the systems used to implement it. Chapter Three of the report focuses on legal, administrative, and technical frameworks that bring offshore wind from paper to project. Key elements include marine spatial planning, transparent seabed leasing processes, permitting procedures, bankable offtake agreements, and grid integration plans. These must all be designed to international standards to attract global investment and mitigate risk.

Environmental and social safeguards are especially emphasized. With over 190 countries committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, offshore wind development must align with sustainability and inclusion goals. Following standards like the IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework can help ensure projects are both bankable and environmentally sound. Marine spatial planning also enables positive coexistence between offshore wind and other sea users like fishers, conservation zones, and shipping lanes.

Making It Happen: Ports, People, and Partnerships

Delivery of the final pillar is about execution: getting turbines into the sea, connected to grids, and delivering clean electricity. This involves infrastructure, skills, and financing. Governments must coordinate early investments in port facilities, transmission lines, and logistics, ideally in tandem with private developers. Floating offshore wind, increasingly viable in deeper waters, offers new opportunities but requires different port and installation infrastructure compared to fixed-bottom turbines.

Financing remains one of the biggest challenges. Offshore wind projects can cost billions, often beyond the reach of domestic banks. The report recommends using concessional finance, blended capital, and risk guarantees to crowd in private investment. Creating a low-risk, transparent environment is essential for attracting long-term capital from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and development banks. Equally important is building up the local workforce. The report encourages governments to promote STEM education, vocational training, and gender diversity in the sector, pointing to programs like GWEC’s Women in Wind as global examples of best practice.

As global momentum builds around offshore wind, the World Bank’s 2025 report offers more than a technical guide it provides a vision for clean, inclusive, and future-proof energy systems in the developing world. Countries that align strategy, policy, frameworks, and delivery will be best positioned to turn offshore wind from a distant dream into a driver of national progress.