Celtic Sea floating offshore wind leasing round increased to 4.5GW

UK national landowner, The Crown Estate, has detailed the final planned locations for the new floating wind farms for Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, off the coast of Wales and the South West.

The new update outlines three Project Development Areas (PDAs) that will increase the overall available capacity through Round 5, from a possible 4GW to up to 4.5GW.

Round 5 is expected to be the first phase of development in the Celtic Sea. This phase will see an upfront Habitats Regulation Assessment, a programme of marine surveys and collaboration with the Electricity System Operator on a coordinated approach to grid design.

In 2021, The Crown Estate first set out plans to explore viable options for a potential leasing opportunity in the area and has been working to resolve a number of spatial considerations and policy drivers potentially impacting project development.

This latest update follows a period of stakeholder engagement on proposals set out in July this year over how to best use the space in the Celtic Sea.

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Based on this feedback, The Crown Estate has confirmed that:

• Three PDAs of roughly equal size will be made available to bidders, as opposed to the previously proposed four PDAs of varying sizes
• As a result of this change, the overall capacity available through Round 5 has increased from a possible 4GW to up to 4.5GW
• No bidder will be able to secure an Agreement for Lease for more than one PDA

The Crown Estate has also updated its design to optimise the seabed providing developers with more developable space in each of the three areas.

Gus Jaspert, managing director Marine at The Crown Estate, commented in a statement: “Round 5 is set to be one of the biggest projects of its kind in the world, and will be a game changer for the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions.

"We will continue to work closely with governments, industry partners and our full range of stakeholders to drive the partnerships needed to truly realise the full potential of floating wind in the Celtic Sea.”

Aerial surveys get underway

According to The Crown Estate, a programme of aerial marine surveys has started in order to gather data for developers.

Specially-equipped aeroplanes will gather data on the sea birds and marine mammals around the project sites and more widely in the Celtic Sea.

The data will be used to aid decision making and lesson project risk.

Comprehensive technical specifications for the whole programme of surveys will be published later this month, giving a complete picture of the data that will eventually be available.

The UK government aims to deliver up to 5GW of floating wind by 2030, with the goal of further expansion thereafter.