The Crown Estate has confirmed the five areas in the Celtic Sea it has earmarked for the development of 4GW of floating offshore wind projects by 2035.
The five broad ‘areas of search’ are located off the Welsh and Cornish coats and have been identified following technical analysis and engagement between the Crown Estate, the UK and Welsh governments and key agencies, as well as specialist stakeholders.
The areas take into account factors such as navigation routes, fisheries activity and environmental sensitivities. By balancing these and other factors, they have been assessed as the most favourable locations for floating offshore wind and those most likely to be deliverable in the near term.
They will be refined into smaller development areas for 1GW-scale projects that will be opened to competitive tender in mid-2023 when they may be developed in a phased or “stepping stone” approach.
This, the Crown Estate said, is intended to provide further investment opportunities in the supply chain and to facilitate the co-ordination of supporting infrastructure.
It highlighted new research which indicates the Celtic Sea has the economic potential to accommodate up to an additional 20GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2045.
The proposed approach to the tender draws on experience of earlier leasing rounds to accelerate development timelines and reduce risk to developers, including by bringing forward the plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) ahead of market tender and initiating offshore survey work.
The HRA will commence based on the areas of search and will assess the potential impacts of the leasing plans on the habitats that make up the UK’s national network of environmentally designated sites.
Subject to the outcome of the assessment, the Crown Estate will next year confirm seabed rights for three separate test and demonstration sites in the Celtic Sea which will help inform the rollout of larger projects both in the area and elsewhere.
Nicola Clay, head of new ventures on The Crown Estate’s marine team, said: “The focus in our current programme on delivering the proposed 4GW of floating wind power represents a phased approach, which will provide important lessons at each stage to support and enable the future growth of the sector.
“It gives visibility to a long-term pipeline that will support investment in the regional supply chain and infrastructure, contribute significantly to UK energy security, and help projects in the Celtic Sea reach a scale where they can become more cost-competitive.
“As we look to refine the areas of search and progress the Habitats Regulations Assessment, we will continue to collaborate with government and other key stakeholders to hasten delivery and create lasting social, economic, and environmental prosperity for the nation.”
Greg Hands, energy and climate change minister, said: “We already have the largest offshore wind deployment in Europe. Floating technology is key to unlocking the full potential of our coastline.
“We want to deliver up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. These projects can help power millions of homes with clean, and cheaper, renewable energy, reducing reliance on expensive fossil fuels.”