The Crown Estate set to partner with Equinor and Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB) to create new floating windfarms off the coasts of Wales and South West England.

The new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world, and 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 to10GW to be brought to market by the end of the decade. 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 news follows the £400m investment in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, with a particular focus on enabling infrastructure.

The preferred bidders are committed to ensuring that at least 3.5 per cent of the workforce consists of apprenticeships and that a minimum of 10 per cent of employees aged 19-24 are not currently in education, employment or training (NEET). 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.

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