Next phase of development of UK floating wind test site begins

Backed by 50% match funding through The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator, the programme will build on EMEC’s earlier concept design for a national floating wind test site.

As UK offshore wind projects scale into deeper waters, developers require a representative environment to prove, refine and derisk technologies before full commercial deployment. However, existing test sites across Europe lack the necessary metocean conditions for the offshore wind projects in the UK’s pipeline.

To address this gap, EMEC has identified a site 20 km west of Orkney with ideal water depths, seabed conditions and wind speeds.

The £500,000 (US$682,000) project will complete feasibility, design scoping and industry engagement to confirm site infrastructure requirements, considering logistical and operational needs to ensure connectivity to ports and alignment with the UK offshore wind ecosystem. 

EMEC will also progress environmental scoping and early-stage survey work at the prospective site including bathymetry, sub‑bottom profiling and ornithological/marine mammal monitoring. By providing a pathway for deepwater and floating wind innovation, the DeepWind test site will help attract investment and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind innovation.

EMEC operations and technology director Mark Hamilton said, “The Crown Estate’s Accelerator funding enables us to move decisively from concept to delivery planning for our deepwater wind test site. During the project, we aim to progress leasing and grid-connection applications, and will initiate some of the longest-lead environmental studies, moving us towards full consenting and front-end engineering design.

“The key outcome will be a robust investment case for phased development of the test site. We will be running a series of engagement exercises over the coming months to gather insight from developers, OEMs, insurers, investors, regulators and community groups and I encourage interested parties to contact us for more detail on how they can help shape the future of UK offshore wind testing.”