Ocean Winds is set to develop the third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea, according to the Crown Estate.
The award completes the Round 5 leasing line-up, with Ocean Winds joining Equinor and Gwynt Glas in progressing projects totalling up to 4.5GW.
The Crown Estate said Ocean Winds was selected through a direct award following market engagement and will now work towards an agreement for lease expected in spring 2026.
Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDPR and Engie, delivered the WindFloat Atlantic project and has developed major UK schemes including Moray East and Moray West.
The Crown Estate said all Round 5 developers will be required to meet commitments on apprenticeships and local employment, with research indicating more than 5000 jobs and a £1.4bn economic boost from the round.
Dan Labbad, chief executive of the Crown Estate, said: “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.”
Craig Windram, chief executive of Ocean Winds, said: “We are proud to be selected for the development rights for this strategic site. With over a decade of experience pioneering floating wind technology, and a proven ability to deliver fixed bottom projects at pace, we are confident in our capabilities to deliver this commercial scale floating project.”
Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary, said: “Securing a third floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea not only strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in this emerging technology, but also further unlocks the region’s vast potential to deliver our clean power mission and bring down energy bills for good.”
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:
“We’re delighted that all three sites in The Crown Estate’s floating wind leasing round in the Celtic Sea are now being developed, with Ocean Winds taking forward plans to build one of the UK’s first commercial-scale floating offshore wind farms. Rolling out innovative floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea offers ports in south Wales and the south west of England excellent opportunities to be in the vanguard of cutting-edge technology by manufacturing and assembling giant platforms and turbines over 250 meters tall, as well as constructing, operating and maintaining projects, creating thousands of highly-skilled jobs.
“Our latest research shows that the UK has the second largest pipeline of floating wind projects in the world. By 2050, the UK’s floating wind industry could employ 97,000 people, contributing £47 billion to our economy by building and supplying projects here as well as exporting our world-leading technology to other countries”.