Plans to create a wave of new floating wind energy projects off the coast of Wales have been revealed.
It comes as the Crown Estates has confirmed it is commencing work to design and deliver a new leasing opportunity for early commercial-scale floating schemes in the Celtic Sea.
The leasing process will focus on projects of circa 300 megawatt in scale - up to three times larger than any rights previously awarded to floating wind in the 海角视频. I t will support the 海角视频 Government’s ambition to deliver one gigawatt of floating wind by 2030.
Last December the Crown Estate invited the market to come forward with views on how best to accelerate the development of floating wind, including feedback on the potential scale and location of future rights and the best route to help build the related supply chain.
The Crown Estate has since received and reviewed input from over 30 interested market participants across industry and other key stakeholder groups, with feedback confirming:
- There is strong interest in new floating wind rights, from a capable and motivated pool of potential market participants.
- The market is confident that current floating wind technology will allow the sector to move to the next phase and deploy early commercial scale projects
- There is appetite to now develop projects that are around 300MW in size, moving the sector onto an ‘early commercial’ phase, with a desire for a pipeline of opportunities that helps to continue to build market confidence.
- Strong interest in project locations in the Celtic Sea - the waters in the region around the South Wales coast and the South West peninsular.
The leasing process builds on the Crown Estate's support for the development of floating wind technology, which last year awarded rights to developers Blue Gem Wind, for the proposed 96 megawatt Erebus floating wind project, in the Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea.
It will provide further details on leasing design in the coming months.
Huub den Rooijen, director of the Crown Estate’s energy, minerals and infrastructure portfolio said: “Floating offshore wind is the next frontier of the 海角视频’s clean energy ambitions, offering an exciting opportunity to deliver more green energy, in new areas offshore.
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"As a technology that will be important for the 海角视频’s pathway to net zero, we are focused on helping to unlock its potential in a way that is sensitive to our precious marine habitats, considers interactions with other uses of the sea, and is compatible with other critical processes such as the tender for leasing round four.
"This announcement is an important step in providing the market the confidence it needs to plan and invest, bringing with it huge opportunities for jobs and the supply chain.”
Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “Floating offshore projects are going to be vital in ensuring we unlock the full potential of natural resources in the windiest parts around our coastline and ensure the 海角视频 remains a world-leader in offshore wind. It is our ambition to ensure every home is powered by wind by 2030 and creating new leasing opportunities in the Celtic Sea will help us reach our ambitions, expanding our capabilities further and faster, creating jobs and generating investment as we continue building back greener.”
Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “Wales’ natural resources underpinned the industrial revolutions of the past and our rich marine and offshore wind resources will be at the forefront of the next, green industrial revolution. This announcement will create opportunities that are up to three times larger than any rights previously awarded to floating wind in the 海角视频, putting the Celtic Sea at the forefront of the green job revolution that comes with this technology.
"Providing investors with opportunities to make the most of our natural resources in a way that unlocks future technologies will be crucial as we pave the way to reach net zero emissions by 2050.”
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government said: “We are committed to building a green and prosperous Wales for our future generations. We welcome The Crown Estate’s intent to open the Celtic Sea for early-commercial scale floating wind development. We look forward to working with them and our partners to ensure any developments maximise local job creation while responding to the climate crisis, building a vibrant new sector here in Wales.”
Renewable海角视频’s Head of policy and regulation Rebecca Williams said: “The Crown Estate is creating an exciting opportunity for renewable energy developers in the Celtic Sea which will help the 海角视频 to maintain its global lead in floating wind. There is a huge appetite within the industry to deploy this innovative technology. Floating wind is essential for the 海角视频 to reach its legally-binding net zero emissions target by 2050 – we can’t get there without it.”