Swindon & Wiltshire News
Offshore wind farm promises new jobs and economic boost
New floating wind farms planned for the coasts of South West England and Wales will deliver economic growth, new jobs, and power for four million homes, the Crown Estate announced today (Thursday).
The Crown Estate said it was partnering with Equinor and Gwynt Glas – a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB – to deliver up to 4.5 gigawatts of secure, renewable energy.
The new wind farms will be among the largest of their kind in the world, underlining – said the Crown Estate – the UK’s position as the leading market for floating offshore wind in Europe.
The initial scheme 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 four to 10 gigawatts to be brought to market by the end of the decade.
Floating offshore wind technology enables turbines to be located in deeper waters than is possible with fixed-base wind farms, unlocking new areas of seabed such as the Celtic Sea for the generation energy.
As reported in October, around 260 300-metre (984 ft) turbines will be assembled at the Port of Bristol and each mounted on a platform the size of a football pitch before being being deployed to a deep water terminal at Avonmouth Docks.
Five hundred miles of undersea cable will connect the wind farms to the electricity network.
The entire scheme is expected to give a £1.4 billion boost to the national economy.
Dan Labbad, chief executive of The Crown Estate, said: “It’s now 25 years since we first laid the foundations for a new market for offshore wind in the UK, creating the right conditions for a new technology to establish and grow into the world-leading industry we have today.
“The selection of EDF Renewables UK, ESB and Equinor to write the next chapter of this story in the Celtic Sea is an exciting reflection of how far we’ve come in that time, and a vote of confidence in this new technology and the long-term future of the UK market as a place to invest.
“The Crown Estate exists to create value for our country into the long term. Coupled with our investment of up to £400 million in the supply chain, the steps we have taken to establish floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea mark a vital contribution to the UK’s energy resilience and growth, and countless opportunities for communities and businesses alike.”
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.”
Image: Crown Estate
