Boost for UK clean energy as capacity increases to seven offshore windfarms agreed

An additional 4.7 GW of energy could be generated from the delivery of the programme by amending existing seabed rights to increase the capacity of seven fixed-bottom offshore windfarms located around England and Wales.

The decision supports the UK government’s target of up to 50 GW of clean energy from offshore wind deployed by 2030. Currently, the UK has nearly 15 GW of offshore wind deployed off its coasts.

The projects were awarded rights in either The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 3 or The Crown Estate’s 2017 Offshore Wind Extensions opportunity, which aims to efficiently unlock additional offshore wind capacity by extending existing offshore windfarms. 

All seven projects have existing grid connections and infrastructure which will enable swift deployment and are within pre-established offshore wind sites. They are: Awel y Môr; Dudgeon Extension; Sheringham Shoal Extension; North Falls; Five Estuaries; Rampion 2; Dogger Bank D.

An extensive plan level Habitats Regulations Assessment was undertaken to assess the effects of the Capacity Increase Programme on protected habitats. After this had been concluded, The Crown Estate recommended to the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero that the Programme should proceed on the basis of a derogation, with compensation measures to address the identified impacts on marine habitats and species. This recommendation has been agreed by the Secretary of State.

In its recommendation, The Crown Estate maintained proceeding with the capacity increases is in the national interest due to the contribution towards the UK’s 2030 clean power targets and the decarbonisation of the electricity grid by 2035.

The Crown Estate managing director Gus Jaspert said, “Our purpose is to create lasting and shared prosperity for the nation. Offshore wind enables us to do that as a driver of economic growth through jobs creation and supply chain development. Delivering the Capacity Increase Programme is an effective way to provide up to 4M homes with secure, clean energy and further decrease the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, often sourced internationally.

“Balancing the needs of energy and nature is an important responsibility we carefully consider, and we’re confident in the environmental compensation measures which will accompany the delivery of the programme. As we look to the future, our leading and collaborative Marine Delivery Routemap will be well-placed to support prioritisation decisions and avoid nature impacts as much as possible.”