Photo by Julia Oberhauser
Ocean Winds has been awarded rights to develop a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea by The Crown Estate, completing the deployment of up to 4.5GW of capacity made available through Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5.
The 50-50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE secured the 358 km² site following a direct award process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The site will support a floating offshore wind project in water depths of 71-88 metres, with a final capacity of up to 1.5GW that could be delivered in phases.
The award follows the Round 5 auction in June which granted rights for two sites to Equinor and Gwynt Glas, a joint venture between EDF Renewables and ESB. Both developers entered into agreements for lease in October. The Crown Estate stated following the June auction that it would ensure delivery of the full potential capacity through deployment of the third site, subsequently engaging the market to secure a developer.
“We are proud to be selected for the award of development rights for this strategic site,” said Craig Windram, CEO of Ocean Winds. “With over a decade of experience pioneering floating wind technology, and a proven ability to deliver fixed bottom projects at pace, we are confident in our capabilities to deliver this commercial scale floating project. The project will bring substantial benefits to the UK and play a vital role in the energy transition.”
Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, said: “I’m incredibly proud that we have delivered on the commitment we made to secure a developer for the third site in the Celtic Sea, and we’re delighted that Ocean Winds will join other world-leading companies to invest in the UK and help establish this pioneering new technology for the long-term benefit of the country.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commented: “Securing a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea not only strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in this emerging technology, but also further unlocks the region’s vast potential to deliver our clean power mission and bring down energy bills for good.”
Research shows that full delivery of Round 5 could lead to the creation of more than 5,000 jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion boost to the UK economy, according to The Crown Estate. Ocean Winds will need to outline which ports it intends to work with for final assembly and deployment of the floating turbines, with Port Talbot and Port of Bristol previously identified as potential locations.
Ocean Winds will pay the same option fees as the other developers—£350 per MW per year—meaning £525,000 annually over the ten-year option period. The company and The Crown Estate will work towards finalising a lease agreement expected to conclude in spring 2026.
Adam Morrison, UK Country Manager at Ocean Winds, added: “This selection offers us the opportunity to strengthen our position in the UK offshore wind market and builds on our delivery experience here, as well as internationally. We are excited to accelerate the development of commercial scale floating offshore wind and keep on delivering clean energy for the country to meet its energy security and Net Zero targets.”
Ocean Winds operates Moray East and Moray West in Scotland, making it the largest offshore wind operator in the country. The company also delivered WindFloat Atlantic in Portugal—the world’s first floating wind farm featuring semi-submersible platforms—and has commercial-scale floating projects under development in South Korea and France.
Geraint Evans, Chief Executive of the UK Major Ports Group, concluded: “A successful offshore wind industry isn’t just about delivering clean, secure energy, but is a catalyst for delivering economic growth across the UK and new jobs in coastal communities. Ports will play a fundamental role in the growth and delivery of UK offshore wind – all three sites in the Celtic Sea moving forward is a critical next step for us all.”