Celtic Sea Floating Wind Seabed Leasing Round Moves to Final Stage

(offshoreWIND.biz) On 7 April, The Crown Estate announced that the plans for a new generation of floating wind farms off the coasts of Wales and South West England moved a step closer as the leasing round for three sites in the Celtic Sea entered its final stages. Additionally, the companies bidding to build the projects shortlisted a range of potential locations in both regions for the assembly and deployment of new turbines.

In February 2024, The Crown Estate launched a new leasing round for three areas off the coasts of Wales and South West England.

Known as Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, the process is expected to award rights for three new floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea, capable of generating enough renewable energy to power more than four million homes (up to 5.4 GW).

As part of the process, bidders have submitted proposals for developing the new wind farms. Evaluation of these proposals from the first stage of the tender (known as ITT Stage 1) has concluded with successful bidders invited to progress to the final stage (ITT Stage 2), said The Crown Estate.

This will involve an auction for the three sites in the spring, with winning bidders expected to sign agreements for leases this summer.