UK leading developers set to deliver new generation of floating windfarms

The news follows a process to award rights to deliver up to 4.5 gigawatts of secure, renewable energy – enough to power more than four million homes. The Crown Estate will ensure the delivery of the full potential capacity through the deployment of a third site. Work is underway on a range of options to deliver this, and The Crown Estate expects to set out next steps by the end of September 2025. 

The new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world, underlining the UK’s position as the leading market for floating offshore wind in Europe and expected to lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs and more than a billion-pound investment in the UK economy. This is expected to be the first phase of a new industry in the Celtic Sea, with The Crown Estate identifying the potential for a further 4-10 gigawatts to be brought to market by the end of the decade. 

The selection of Equinor and Gwynt Glas – a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB – on 12 June as preferred bidders to deliver the new floating windfarms follows the conclusion of the latest leasing round by The Crown Estate, and is a significant vote of confidence in the UK’s world-leading offshore energy market at a time of global volatility and uncertainty for the sector.  

Launched at the start of 2024, a core focus of Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 has been to open up a new region of the UK for the generation of more secure, clean energy, while kick-starting the development of a new industry and supply chain around the Celtic Sea. 

The new floating windfarms are expected to unlock a range of new opportunities for skills, apprenticeships and employment, as well as investment in new port infrastructure. 

The preferred bidders are committed to ensuring that at least 3.5% of the workforce consists of apprenticeships and that a minimum of 10% of employees aged 19-24 are not currently in education, employment or training. As part of their submissions to The Crown Estate, the bidders also set out further plans for creating new on-shore opportunities, with more details expected to be announced following the signing of Agreements for Lease in the autumn. 

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Floating offshore wind will be transformative for economic growth in Wales and the South West, unlocking thousands of jobs in places like Port Talbot and Bristol, bolstering our energy security and delivering industrial renewal. 

"The Celtic Sea has huge untapped potential to support our mission to become clean energy superpower, so we can get energy bills down for good through our Plan for Change.”