Floating offshore wind (FLOW) is one of the world’s fast-growing renewable energy sectors, with a potential market that could be four times the size of conventional offshore wind.
In the British Energy Security Strategy, HMG has committed the UK to reaching 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, of which up to 5GW could be FLOW. With Scotland the only other location for large FLOW project development, 2.5GW of the 5GW target could be in the Celtic Sea.
This, together with The Crown Estate’s published ambition of at least 4GW of FLOW installed in the Celtic Sea by 2035 and Crown Estate Scotland’s “Scotwind” announcement of 16GW of FLOW leases, makes the UK the world’s biggest FLOW market. It represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish the Celtic Sea and Scotland as world leaders in this exciting renewable energy technology. There are, though, significant challenges to address and overcome.
The scale of the technology, the supporting ports and grid infrastructure, the batch installation methods, and the operating and maintenance needs will be beyond anything seen since the birth of the North Sea Oil & Gas in the North Sea in 1964. Wholly owned by Cornwall Council, and formerly the project developer of the Hayle Wave Hub site, Celtic Sea Power has now repositioned to provide the regional leadership needed to turn these ambitions into reality.
Populated by offshore renewable energy professionals and with a mission to make Celtic Sea FLOW a success for the Celtic Sea regions, Celtic Sea Power is uniquely well placed to provide the regional leadership and strategy, with other Celtic Sea Cluster partners, to help regional industry develop at the pace needed to meet the needs of the FLOW project developers, whilst at the same time maximising local business, jobs and wealth creation.
