Maple Power and Mainstream Renewable Power have teamed up to explore the Crown Estate’s tender for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, which will be launched in 2023.
The Crown Estate is advancing the Celtic Sea seabed leasing tender for floating wind, which is anticipated to deliver a total of 4GW of renewable energy by 2035.
Together, Maple Power and Mainstream bring a combination of “deep sector knowledge, extensive development experience and financial strength” to target commercial-scale floating projects.
Tove Roskaft, Head of Offshore Wind at Mainstream, said: “The Celtic Sea can play a leading role in reaching the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, while providing renewable energy for green value chains in Wales and beyond through its proximity to key industry.
“I believe Mainstream and Maple Power bring together highly complementary capabilities and experience which will support us well in our aim to bid on and develop floating offshore wind in the region.”
Since 2019, Maple Power, together with its partners and shareholders has co-developed over 2GW of offshore wind projects across Europe, including Provence Grand Large, the first non-recourse project financed floating offshore wind project currently in construction.
In the UK Mainstream has developed and consented 20% of the UK’s offshore wind capacity either in operation or under construction through Hornsea One (1.2GW), Hornsea 2 (1.4GW) and Neart na Gaoithe (450MW).
Through its recent combination with Aker Offshore Wind, Mainstream has taken an early mover position in floating wind and is currently, together with its partners, developing gigawatt-scale projects in South Korea (1.2GW) and Scotland (1.8GW).
Mainstream is also a major shareholder of the leading floating wind technology provider Principle Power.
Michael van der Heijden, CEO at Maple Power, said: “Maple Power has been active in floating offshore wind since 2019, when the team started to co-develop the Provence Grand Large project in France.
“With construction of that project now well underway, I am keen for Maple Power to further deploy its floating offshore wind expertise.
“Combined with Mainstream’s track record, the two companies together are therefore well-placed to consider opportunities in the Celtic Sea tender.”