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The leasing round for three 1.5-GW floating wind sites in the Celtic Sea has moved to its final stages, The Crown Estate, manager of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, announced on Monday. Eligible bidders have been invited to progress to the Invitation to Tender Stage 2 (ITT Stage 2). In this stage, successful bidders from ITT Stage 1 will participate in an auction for the three sites later in the spring. Agreements for Lease are expected to be signed with the winners in the summer. The Crown Estate did not name the bidders but provided a list of ports put forward in their proposals. Port Talbot and/or Port of Bristol are currently anticipated to play a key role in the delivery of Round 5 floating wind projects. The other suggested ports include Pembroke Port, Port of Swansea, Port of Plymouth, Falmouth Port and Port of Brest. “The UK is a world leader when it comes to floating offshore wind, and by unlocking the untapped potential of the Celtic Sea we will reap the benefits of economic growth and thousands of jobs in Wales and the South West, delivering on our Plan for Change,” said Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Welcoming the announcement, RenewableUKs Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said: By 2050, floating turbines could provide a third of the UK’s offshore wind capacity with 40 gigawatts fully operational - enough to power every home in the country. By then, our analysis shows that the UK’s floating wind industry will employ 97,000 people, contributing GBP 47 billion to our economy by building and supplying projects here as well as exporting our cutting-edge technology worldwide. The Round 5 leasing process was launched in February 2024. (GBP 1.0 = USD 1.301/EUR 1.177) |
