Sixteen UK projects across England, Wales and Scotland will share more than £13 million in development funding through The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator, the organisation said on Tuesday.
The funding, part of the programme’s second round, aims to accelerate and de-risk early-stage supply chain initiatives serving the offshore wind sector. According to The Crown Estate, the total nearly triples the amount provided in the first round of awards last year.
Projects in Plymouth, Pembrokeshire, Blyth and Orkney are among those receiving support to advance national clean energy goals. The Supply Chain Accelerator, launched in May 2024 as a £50 million programme, forms part of broader plans to invest up to £400 million in UK offshore wind supply chains. These initiatives sit within a £1 billion investment package from The Crown Estate, Great British Energy, and the wider offshore wind industry announced earlier this year.
Businesses could apply for up to £1.5 million per project, with 50% match funding for early development expenditure and an option for The Crown Estate to participate in later capital investment. Funded projects focus on areas such as reef scour protection, automated mooring systems, wet storage, foundation manufacture, and anchoring strategies. The Crown Estate said the combined development investment could exceed £26.5 million, potentially unlocking more than £2.2 billion of capital investment and around 3,000 full-time jobs.
