Corio to shrink as Macquarie gets no takers for offshore wind player

Developer to focus on 'smaller portfolio with clearest route to construction' as owner ends sale

Samuel Leupold, CEO of Corio Generation
Samuel Leupold, CEO of Corio GenerationPhoto: ALISTAIR VERYARD

Corio Generation is preparing to shrink its operations after owner Macquarie reportedly halted plans to sell the offshore wind developer.

Corio was set up by Macquarie in 2022 as a pure-play offshore wind developer and amassed a 30GW portfolio spanning many of the world’s most promising markets.

However, Corio’s formation came just as the global forces that have borne down on the sector over recent years – cost inflation, squeezed supply chains and more expensive capital – began to bite and it has struggled to push ahead with its projects as fast as planned.

A Corio spokesperson told Recharge: “Given challenging market conditions in the offshore wind sector, Corio Generation is refocusing its global operations to prioritise the development of a smaller portfolio of projects which have the clearest route through to construction.

“This will also require a restructure of the organisation to reflect that change in strategy. We are discussing this with our project partners and staff who may be affected by these changes."

Macquarie was said to have begun seeking a buyer for Corio last year but has now ended the process after no takers emerged, said Reuters citing two unnamed sources it said have knowledge of the matter.
The sale process has also run into the turmoil in global markets caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs, Reuters said.

Corio’s founding CEO Jonathan Cole left the business in January, replaced by chairman Samuel Leupold.

Leupold told staff of London-based Corio about the latest plans earlier today.

The company had already made a “small number” of job cuts late last year, thought to amount to 10% of its then-270-strong workforce.
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Published 8 April 2025, 12:14Updated 8 April 2025, 12:14
Corio GenerationEuropeOffshore