Haskoning has been appointed as lead Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant for Gwynt Glas floating offshore wind project in the Celtic Sea.
The Peterborough-based consultancy will deliver the EIA and Habitats Regulations Assessment for the scheme, which was selected in June as a preferred bidder in the Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5.
Once operational, Gwynt Glas is expected to contribute up to 1.5GW to the Celtic Sea’s first 4.5GW development round, making it one of the largest proposed floating offshore wind projects in the world.
Project director Mark Hazelton said: “Gwynt Glas is a transformative renewable energy project that will not only contribute to our energy security but also bring economic and social benefits to Wales, the South West region and the broader UK. The appointment of a lead EIA consultant is a major step forward in progressing the project.”
Haskoning will assess potential impacts to the natural, heritage, human and built environments across the project’s life cycle and will play a central role in securing the Development Consent Order and required licensing from Natural Resources Wales.
The company’s global director of offshore wind Matthew Hunt said: “As one of the first large scale floating offshore wind farm arrays to be delivered in the UK, Gwynt Glas promises to lay down an extremely significant benchmark for the future of clean energy.”
Haskoning’s appointment builds on its experience supporting offshore wind consents for projects totalling up to 18GW, including Dogger Bank, Morecambe and North Falls.
According to the Crown Estate, Round 5 projects could generate up to 5300 jobs during initial construction. Gwynt Glas has also launched the ‘Destination Renewables’ education programme with Pembrokeshire College and other partners, engaging more than 300 students to date.
Work on the EIA is now underway ahead of formal submission.