Ocean Winds has secured the third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea, offered through the Crown Estate’s Round 5 auction earlier this year. The developer is joining Equinor and the Gwynt Glas joint venture, which were awarded rights for two of the three sites offered in June.
On 19 November, the Crown Estate announced that Ocean Winds was set to be awarded the rights for a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea.
In June, following the auction in which the third site was not assigned, the UK seabed manager confirmed it would ensure the delivery of the full potential capacity of up to 4.5 GW through Round 5 with a third site.
The Crown Estate has since been engaging the market to secure a developer for the third site, and Ocean Winds secured the area through a direct award process in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
Ocean Winds and the Crown Estate will now work towards finalizing a lease agreement, expected to conclude in Spring 2026.
Equinor and Gwynt Glas, a joint venture between EDF and ESB, entered into lease agreements for their floating wind projects in October.
“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,” said Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate. “We’re delighted that Ocean Winds will join other world-leading companies to invest in the UK and help establish this pioneering technology.”
Craig Windram, CEO of Ocean Winds, said: “We are proud to be selected for the development rights for this strategic site. With over a decade of experience in floating wind technology, we are confident in our capabilities to deliver this commercial-scale project. The initiative will play a vital role in the energy transition.”
As part of the tender process for Round 5, bidders were required to outline plans for creating new onshore benefits from the development of wind farms. This included commitments to new apprenticeships and ensuring that a minimum of 10 per cent of employees aged 19-24 are not currently in education or training.
Ocean Winds will be subject to similar conditions, with research indicating that the full delivery of Round 5 could create over 5,000 jobs and provide a GBP 1.4 billion boost to the UK economy, according to the Crown Estate.
Ocean Winds will also need to specify which ports it will partner with for the final assembly and deployment of the new floating turbines, with Port Talbot and Port of Bristol identified as potential locations.
“Securing a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea enhances the UK’s status as a global leader,” said Ed Miliband, UK Energy Secretary. “Floating offshore wind will drive growth across Wales and the South West, create jobs, bolster energy security, and power industrial renewal.”
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