ORE Catapult has welcomed this week’s announcement from The Crown Estate that they are launching a new floating wind leasing opportunity in the Celtic Sea. ORE Catapult Chief Executive Andrew Jamieson said:   

"ORE Catapult has engaged extensively with The Crown Estate over the last few months on how best to accelerate the development of floating offshore wind in the UK, including advising on potential scale and the most appropriate and cost-effective sea areas for development.

"Our Floating Offshore Wind: Cost Reduction Pathways to Subsidy Free report, issued in January 2021, called for a leasing round to be established within the next two years to facilitate access to the most cost-effective development areas in England and Wales, specifically the Celtic Sea and North East England, and we are very pleased to see part of that recommendation become a reality.

"Floating offshore wind is set to play a vital role in the UK’s journey to Net Zero and in delivering 100GW of offshore wind by 2050. We welcome this announcement, which is setting out the groundwork to realising the huge economic and environmental benefits the development of the UK’s floating offshore wind sector will bring.  With our operating bases in Cornwall and Wales, ORE Catapult is already working with relevant businesses, and we look forward to exploiting the opportunities this major step forward brings for the Celtic Cluster and the rest of the UK.”

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: ORE Catapult