Engineering consultancy Haskoning has been appointed as the lead Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant for the Gwynt Glas floating offshore wind project in the Celtic Sea, the company said on Tuesday.
The Peterborough-based firm will conduct the EIA and Habitats Regulations Assessment for the scheme, which was selected as a preferred bidder in the Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 in June. Once operational, Gwynt Glas is expected to provide up to 1.5 GW of capacity, forming part of the first 4.5 GW development round in the Celtic Sea and making it one of the largest proposed floating offshore wind projects globally.
“Gwynt Glas is a transformative renewable energy project that will not only contribute to our energy security but also bring economic and social benefits to Wales, the South West region and the broader UK,” project director Mark Hazelton said. “The appointment of a lead EIA consultant is a major step forward in progressing the project.”
Haskoning will evaluate potential impacts on natural, heritage, human, and built environments across the project’s lifecycle and support the project in securing its Development Consent Order and necessary licensing from Natural Resources Wales.
Matthew Hunt, Haskoning’s global director of offshore wind, said: “As one of the first large-scale floating offshore wind farm arrays to be delivered in the UK, Gwynt Glas promises to lay down an extremely significant benchmark for the future of clean energy.”
Haskoning brings experience from offshore wind consents supporting projects totalling up to 18 GW, including Dogger Bank, Morecambe, and North Falls. The Crown Estate estimates that Round 5 projects could generate up to 5,300 jobs during initial construction. Gwynt Glas has also launched an education initiative, ‘Destination Renewables,’ engaging more than 300 students in collaboration with Pembrokeshire College and other partners.
Work on the EIA is now underway ahead of formal submission, marking a key milestone in advancing the project toward construction.
