26 Mar 2024
Simply Blue Group, an Ireland-based blue economy project developer, has announced its partnership with the not-for-profit organisation North Sea Farm 1 Project (NSF1) consortium to establish the world’s inaugural commercial-scale seaweed farm situated within an offshore wind farm. The 10-hectare farm, located off the Dutch coast in the North Sea, is scheduled to commence operations […]
26 Mar 2024
Speaking at a port in North Wales, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has announced that Great British Energy, a publicly-owned company, will fund the construction of floating offshore wind farms. Labour has pledged to decarbonise the UK by 2030, while the Conservatives target 2035 for net zero energy supply. The Tories said Labour’s plan was […]
19 Mar 2024
Britain’s flagship renewables scheme has received its biggest ever funding boost from government, with more than £1 billion for its upcoming auction. The budget for the sixth Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round (AR6) was announced by the Chancellor at the March 2024 budget. This follows the increase in the maximum price for offshore wind and floating […]
12 Mar 2024
By Claire Szostek, Marine Ecologist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Towering up to 260m above the ocean’s surface, modern wind turbines are impressive feats of engineering, producing much-needed renewable energy. But what happens beneath the waves? Government policymakers need reliable evidence to make planning decisions about new offshore wind developments and ensure positive outcomes. Currently, this evidence comes […]
05 Mar 2024
A new report from RenewableUK shows that the Government has an opportunity to secure a record number of new offshore wind farms, and record amount of new capacity, in this year’s summer’s auction for contracts to generate clean power (Contracts for Difference). Renewable UK says that ‘in a huge boost to the UK’s energy security, […]
05 Mar 2024
The Crown Estate has announced significant progress in collating world-class data, evidence and research through the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme (OWEC) to help shape and deliver future offshore wind development in a way that protects and helps restore nature and the vital marine natural environment. OWEC, a partnership between 26 members, provides a […]
20 Feb 2024
The Crown Estate has concluded the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the Celtic Sea floating offshore wind leasing process. The HRA covers the three Project Development Areas (PDAs) which are being made available through the Round 5 leasing process, and which will see commercial-scale floating wind farms established in the Celtic Sea for the first […]
09 Feb 2024
A group of conservation organisations are calling on planners to work together to ensure that wildlife is protected in the Irish Sea. The ‘Ecological Considerations for Marine Spatial Planning in the Irish Sea’ report urges planners in all six nations bordering the Irish Sea to collaborate and cooperate “for the sake of nature”. The Irish […]
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