Equinor and Gwynt Glas secure UK floating offshore wind leases

The Crown Estate has awarded seabed rights to Equinor and Gwynt Glas to develop two 1500MW floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea.

Gwynt Glas is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB.

The Crown Estate selected the winners after the conclusion of the fifth round of the UK’s offshore wind leasing programme. Each bidder will pay an annual option fee of £350 per megawatt.

A third 1500MW project development area is also part of the scope, with the Crown Estate expected to announce further details by the end of September 2025.

The 4.5GW of renewable capacity to be provided will power four million homes.

The venture is the first phase of a new industry in the Celtic Sea, with the potential addition of between 4GW and 10GW to be brought to market by 2030.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated: “Floating offshore wind will be transformative for economic growth in Wales and the south west, unlocking thousands of jobs in places such as 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 a clean energy superpower, so we can get energy bills down for good through our Plan for Change.”

Gwynt Glas has also filed plans to maximise socio-economic and overall social value opportunities.

It is collaborating with DP Energy’s Pembrokeshire-based team as a development partner to understand local expertise while promoting skills development through educational institutions in Wales.

EDF Renewables UK CEO Matthieu Hue stated: “We look forward to further developing the Gwynt Glas offshore wind farm, helping the UK maintain a market-leading position in floating wind and recognising the important role that floating wind can play in the UK’s ambition towards reaching net zero.”

EDF states that development activities will now advance and adhere strictly to current UK government guidelines for comprehensive stakeholder consultations.

Key aspects such as project size, turbine location and installed capacity will be determined during this next phase. The consenting process is anticipated to take between three and five years, with full operation expected by the early 2030s.