Our Chief Development Officer, Richard Sandford, reflects on the last two months of JERA Nex bp and how the journey so far is shaping an ambitious future.
We’ve joined forces to shape the future of offshore wind – JERA Nex bp, a new offshore wind joint venture that brings together the complementary strengths of two global energy leaders, JERA and bp. It’s an opportunity and a promise; not just for our customers, but to the offshore wind industry and the communities we serve, that we will unlock the power of offshore wind to deliver affordable, secure and sustainable energy.
What makes us JERA Nex bp
Undeniably, offshore wind is a complex and fast-evolving sector, and one that’s faced its fair share of challenges. It requires strong technical skills, innovation, collaboration, and resilience. Bringing together these organizations – each with its own history and strengths – means we’re combining expertise and perspectives to create something stronger. It’s about trust, shared values, and building a culture where people work together towards a common goal.
JERA Nex bp is more than a new business. Our combined team has deep experience across Europe and Asia Pacific, with activities in Australia and the US. From R&D and wind farm design to permitting, system integration, and solutions that drive operational excellence, we offer a full range of offshore wind. Projects like Sørlige Nordsjø II, the first major offshore wind project on the Norwegian continental shelf, demonstrate the kind of complex challenges we’re prepared to lead.
By bringing together complementary strengths, global expertise, and a shared ambition, we’ve created one of the most exciting places to work in the renewables sector today. I am excited about the future and building a company where talented people unite with a purpose, innovation thrives, and everyone is empowered to make a difference.
Safety at the forefront
It goes without saying that safety always comes first. We started life with a portfolio of 20 projects – including seven operational sites –our commitment to safety is embedded in every aspect of how we work, guiding how we plan, operate, and deliver. Our approach is consistent and rigorous at JERA Nex bp, continuously improving performance and ensuring our operations remain safe, reliable, and in fully compliant.
But safety isn’t just about systems and standards – it’s also about people. To realize our ambitions responsibly, we must treat those ambitions, and each other, with genuine care. That starts with the everyday environment we create for our teams – one where people feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. It also means holding ourselves accountable for the impact we have beyond the workplace – on the communities we’re part of and the natural environments we share. This mindset of care and responsibility is central to how we operate, and it’s more important than ever as we tackle the increasing scale and complexity of the energy trilemma.
With this foundation in place, we can look ahead with confidence. Offshore wind is a space that demands ingenuity – not just in how we apply technology, but in how we think, collaborate, and adapt. It challenges us to take a fresh approach – learning from each other across disciplines and geographies and continuously finding better ways to deliver. Innovation isn’t something we do on the side; it’s part of our day-to-day, embedded in how we collaborate, solve problems and move forward every day.
We’re just getting started
We’re only two months into JERA Nex bp, but even before we launched, I was struck by the dedication and collaborative mindset in the people that now make up our team. We’ve been through an intense period of change and upheaval, and the formal launch didn’t mark the end of that. We’re settling into new offices, building relationships and navigating unfamiliar territory as we lay the groundwork for what’s ahead.
In the UK alone, offshore wind generation capacity has tripled from 5.1GW to over 15GW in the last decade, providing around 18% of the country’s electricity annually and supporting a workforce of nearly 40,000 people. Globally, while 2024 was the fourth-highest year for new grid connections, it set records for construction and auctions, and GWEC predicts 350GW of additional offshore capacity will be installed over the next decade (2025-2034).
As Nathalie said in her blog last month, we’re at an inflection point. As someone who’s been working in the power sector since my power station apprentice days, nearly forty years now, and 17 of those in offshore wind, I’ve seen the peaks and troughs industries like ours go through. I’ve seen cycles continue and challenges become opportunities. For offshore wind, it’s undeniable that we have an essential role to play in the energy mix, and that ensuring an affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply has never been more important. That’s why I have confidence that this venture – JERA Nex bp – is the platform that will allow us to keep doing what we do best – working as part of world-class teams to safely develop and operate high quality offshore wind projects – whatever the challenges ahead.