Positive news for the UK’s clean energy ambitions as the Crown Estate announces major partnerships to develop floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea - marking a pivotal step in scaling this nascent technology and reaffirming the UK as a global leader. This milestone supports the journey to 50 GW by 2030 and promises social and economic benefits for Wales and the South West.
The Crown Estate has awarded seabed rights to Equinor and Gwynt Glas - a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and Irish Utility ESB - to develop two 1.5GW floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea. The announcement follows the conclusion of Round 5 of the UK’s offshore wind leasing programme and represents the first round focused on floating wind at a commercial scale.
Unlocking the future of offshore wind power
Floating offshore wind is central to unlocking new wind farm sites in deeper waters, where stronger and more consistent wind speeds can drive greater energy yields. As offshore wind is set to form the backbone of the UK’s clean energy mix, accelerating deployment is essential to meet 2050 Net Zero targets.
This announcement signals continued UK leadership in innovative offshore renewable energy, opening up significant opportunities for local supply chains and industrial growth. It is projected to create around 5,300 jobs and contribute £1.4 billion to the UK economy. More broadly, this is a significant step within a much larger opportunity for UK economic growth at scale in the clean energy transition, with skilled job creation across manufacturing, operations and management.
This is transformative for economic growth in Wales and the South West. The Celtic Sea has huge untapped potential to support our mission to become a clean energy superpower, so we can get energy bills down for good through our Plan for Change.
Next Steps
Whilst this is positive news, floating offshore wind – and the businesses and technologies behind it – require continued support and a clear roadmap to make the best use of current opportunities. Faster, more focused action is required to maintain the UK’s leadership in offshore renewable energy, to realise the full potential of the economic gains and to meet energy targets.
The Supergen ORE Hub provides research leadership to support the development of these technologies, ensuring innovation plays a central role in reducing uncertainty and optimising performance. Through our cross sector network, we connect researchers with industry needs and champion the long-term policy, regulatory and infrastructure frameworks required to accelerate the sector. Beyond business-as-usual support for the growth of these technologies, we call for a step-change that enables the sector to deliver at pace to meet the urgency of the climate emergency.
Further reading
https://renews.biz/101280/equinor-edf-esb-win-celtic-sea-lease-auction/
ORE Report - https://supergen-ore.net/news-and-events/upcoming-2040-outlook-report-2
