Offshore Wind at a Crossroads: Scaling, Sovereignty, and the Next Five Years

In this episode of The ReVolting Podcast, Úna Brosnan and John MaCaskill are joined in-studio by Jonathan Cole, a veteran of the offshore wind industry with over two decades of experience spanning global development, policy advocacy, and market-building.Together they take stock of an industry at an inflection point. From the remarkable rise of offshore wind into a cornerstone of energy systems, to the current headwinds of inflation, supply chain constraints, and policy friction, the conversation explores what’s really behind today’s turbulence - and what comes next.Jonathan reflects on the lessons learned from scaling offshore wind globally, arguing that while technology has advanced rapidly, policy and infrastructure have struggled to keep pace. The discussion dives into the structural challenges now facing the sector, including transmission bottlenecks, supply chain concentration, and the risks of over-ambitious targets without delivery frameworks to match.The episode also unpacks the growing role of geopolitics in shaping the energy transition. From shifting alliances and weakened multilateral institutions to the resurgence of energy sovereignty as a central driver, the conversation highlights why the transition is increasingly being framed not just as a climate imperative, but as an economic and security strategy.Closer to home, the discussion turns to the UK and Europe - exploring the strengths of established offshore wind markets, the implications of recent policy decisions, and the delicate balance between maintaining investor confidence and navigating national security concerns.A candid and wide-ranging conversation on realism versus ambition, the importance of infrastructure and policy alignment, and why the next phase of the energy transition may depend less on ideology - and more on execution.