The representative body for the offshore energy sector, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), has responded to the Crown Estate’s announcement of a new floating offshore wind leasing round.
Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 seeks to establish a new floating wind sector in the Celtic Sea off the coasts of South Wales and South West England, creating up to 4.5GW of new renewable energy capacity.
The UK has a world-leading ambition to deploy up to 50GW by 2030, with up to 5GW coming from floating offshore wind.
Commenting on the announcement, OEUK wind & renewables manager Thibaut Cheret said:
'Offshore wind is a UK success story we need to build on. With one of the world’s largest wind fleets outside of China, and an oil and gas supply chain with decades of transferrable expertise, the UK can carve out a clear competitive advantage in this burgeoning sector.
'Combined with INTOG and ScotWind, this leasing round will not only help the UK establish a new floating wind sector, but it will also provide opportunities for local communities, expand our energy mix, and help the UK to maintain a homegrown energy transition.
'To make sure we fully grasp this opportunity, the Government should continue its efforts to halve project turnaround times and ensure the basin remains an attractive, stable, and competitive place to do energy business.'
Source: OEUK
