Ocean Winds has now won development rights for a first – and hugely important – floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea. This success follows a wholly new direct award process led by The Crown Estate. This major announcement strengthens Ocean Winds’ market-leading position to accelerate the UK’s floating offshore wind industry. The site protects a stunning 358 square kilometers of ocean waters between the coast of England and Wales. When finished, it’s expected to produce 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of electricity.
The project is also a significant expansion for Ocean Winds, which has long been recognized for its floating wind expertise. Craig Windram, the CEO of Ocean Winds, said they were proud to have been chosen. He noted the company’s 10 years of experience as a leader in floating wind technology development. Windram noted that they’re ready to prove out their capability to deliver on this commercial-scale project. This long-awaited initiative will pay huge dividends to the UK and help catalyze the energy transition.
Advancements in Floating Wind Technology
Ocean Winds has been at the forefront of floating wind technology. They’ve gone on to prove themselves through successful projects such as the WindFloat Atlantic off of Portugal. This was deemed to be the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm, which was finished in 2020. The company has shipbuilding progressing in parallel for the Eoliennes flottantes du Golfe du Lion floating demonstrator site in France. Today, it’s in the final stages of construction.
The new project in the Celtic Sea continues an installation momentum for floating offshore wind. These installations will thrive in water depths ranging from 71 meters to 88 meters. These developments are extremely important. They allow us to harness wind energy farther offshore, where wind speeds are often higher and more consistent.
Economic and Social Benefits
Far more than just expected to create high-quality jobs, the development is set to unleash long-term socioeconomic value for the UK. We were able to get this project done in phases. This new direction will play directly into our bigger agenda to help grow the country’s renewable energy pipeline.
Dan Labbad, CEO of The Crown Estate, expressed satisfaction with the selection process, stating, “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.”
Future Prospects
Ocean Winds is still pursuing this project. It is going to be central to the UK’s transition to a renewables-powered future. The potential development of up to 1.5GW capacity reflects a significant stride towards meeting energy demands while reducing carbon emissions.