Crown Estate sets out approach to 20-30 GW of offshore wind leasing

The Crown Estate has today published a vision for the UK seabed, including its Future of Offshore Wind report, which outlines how seabed rights for 20 GW-30 GW of new offshore capacity could be brought to market by 2030 to support the UK’s net zero and energy security ambitions.

The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Great British Energy, a newly formed state-run company, recently announced a partnership expected to advance this volume of offshore wind to the seabed lease stage by 2030.

In its report, the Crown Estate says it has identified a need to bring these 20 GW-30 GW of new offshore wind seabed rights in the waters off England and Wales by 2030, for delivery out to 2040.

The main leasing opportunities by 2030 are expected to be in the Celtic Sea, off the southwestern coasts of England and Wales, and in the North Sea, off the northeast coast of England. A number of smaller projects are also likely off the coasts of North Wales, North West England, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, the Crown Estate said.

The Crown Estate also published its Marine Delivery Routemap, which remains under development and sets out a more coordinated, long-term approach to meeting future demands on the UK seabed.

One of the benefits the body aims to achieve is providing visibility and certainty for developers. RenewableUK's chief executive Dan McGrail commented that this is helpful.

"Providing long-term visibility on the details of future offshore wind leasing rounds as early as possible will help to further increase confidence in the long-term stability of the UK's world-leading offshore wind market, potentially leading to billions of pounds of additional private investment in the decades ahead,” McGrail stated.

According to the Future of Offshore Wind report, the UK’s offshore wind pipeline currently totals 95 GW, including 15 GW in operation, around 12 GW under construction or contracted, 11 GW consented, 16 GW with planning applications submitted, 27 GW in pre-planning and another 14 GW of potential capacity from announced leasing that has yet to be awarded seabed rights.

The Crown Estate now plans to engage with developers, wider industry and stakeholders to determine the best approach to move forward.

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