Former US President and incoming President-elect Donald Trump has criticised the United Kingdom’s energy policy, urging the country to abandon wind farms and expand oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
“The UK is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills!” Trump declared in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday.
According to Reuters, the North Sea, once a leading offshore energy hub, has seen a steady decline in production since the early 2000s while emerging as a significant offshore wind energy region.
Trump’s comments reignited his long-standing opposition to wind energy, a position dating back to his 2015 legal challenge against wind turbines near his Scottish golf course.
He linked his remarks to a report noting US oil producer APA Corp’s planned North Sea exit by 2029, with production expected to drop 20% in 2025.
The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is prioritising renewable energy expansion, aiming to quadruple offshore wind capacity to 60 gigawatts by 2030. This goal aligns with its broader decarbonisation strategy and efforts to improve air quality.
To fund these initiatives, the government recently increased the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers from 35% to 38%, extending the levy by another year.
While the policy seeks to bolster renewable energy, industry leaders have raised concerns that higher taxes may deter investment. Some oil firms have sold assets or shifted focus to newer basins in response.
North Sea oil production has dropped from its peak of 4.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the early 2000s to roughly 1.3 million boed. Meanwhile, offshore wind projects in the region face challenges, including rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions, and higher interest rates, leading companies like Orsted to scale back investments.
The Conservative Party’s shadow energy minister, Claire Coutinho, criticised Labour’s energy strategy, arguing it could undermine domestic energy security.
“No other major economy is shutting down its domestic oil and gas production… It’s totally mad,” she stated.
Industry experts emphasise that while renewables are essential for net-zero targets, careful policy management is needed to ensure a balanced transition.
The North Sea Transition Authority and the UK’s energy security department declined to comment on Trump’s statements.