Equinor and Gwynt Glas have signed lease agreements with the Crown Estate for the development of floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea, moving forward with projects that could supply clean energy to millions of UK homes.
The agreements, announced ahead of the Future Energy Wales conference in Newport, provide the developers with exclusive rights to advance the design and development of their respective projects, each with a planned capacity of up to 1.5 gigawatts.
The lease agreements are part of the UK’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, which aims to deliver up to 4.5GW of floating wind capacity across three sites in the Celtic Sea — enough to power approximately four million homes. Equinor and Gwynt Glas were announced as preferred bidders in June.
“As we edge closer to celebrating 25 years of UK offshore wind in December, the entry of Gwynt Glas and Equinor into agreements for lease in the Celtic Sea is testament to the world-leading industry we see before us today,” said Gus Jaspert, managing director for marine at the Crown Estate.
The projects are now set to enter the development phase, which will include site surveys, environmental impact assessments, community consultations, and securing planning permissions. Final investment decisions and full leases could follow before the projects become operational in the mid-2030s.
Gwynt Glas is a joint venture between EDF Renewables and Ireland’s ESB. Mark Hazelton, project director at Gwynt Glas, said the milestone “represents a significant vote of confidence in the UK’s floating offshore wind sector.” He added: “The Agreement for Lease underscores our shared commitment to delivering a transformative renewable energy project that will not only contribute to our energy security but also bring economic and social benefits to Wales, South West and the UK.”
Equinor’s Melissa Read, head of regional development for UK renewables, said: “Completion of the Agreement for Lease is a positive step forward since the Round 5 auction in June. We look forward to developing this site in the Celtic Sea further over the coming years and unlocking, together with the industry, the future potential for floating wind in the UK market.”
The Crown Estate stated that the projects include commitments on economic inclusion, including apprenticeship targets and the employment of young people not currently in education or work. According to previous research, the leasing round could support over 5,300 jobs and contribute £1.4 billion to the UK economy.
Energy minister Michael Shanks called the agreements “world-leading,” noting their role in promoting job creation and energy independence. Welsh economy secretary Rebecca Evans added that floating wind in the Celtic Sea presents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to strengthen regional economies.
The Crown Estate said it is continuing to seek a developer for the remaining site within the round and will provide updates in due course.
