CPRW, The Welsh Countryside Charity, welcomes the Crown Estate’s announcement that Ocean Wind has been selected as the developer to take forward the third major floating offshore wind project in the Celtic Sea. This marks a significant step in expanding Wales’s offshore renewable energy generation while reducing pressure for large-scale energy development in rural landscapes.
This secures a total of 4,200 MW of generation capacity, roughly half of which will be in the Welsh segment of the Celtic Sea.
Wales already has about 2,500 MW of offshore wind in the Irish Sea, either operational, in construction or consented, and with about 10,000 MW will be able to generate sufficient electricity for net zero by 2050.
The Celtic Sea is believed to have considerable additional potential beyond that announced, and there is still development potential in the Irish Sea.
Jonathan Dean, CPRW Trustee, said: “The more we have offshore, the less we need onshore. Securing up to 4.5 GW of floating wind capacity in the Celtic Sea marks a pivotal moment for Wales. Industrial-scale energy does not belong scattered across our hillsides and rural communities. Offshore wind offers a better alternative – creating clean energy at scale while reducing pressure on landscapes, habitats and villages. The associated investment in ports, fabrication, maintenance and the wider supply chain represents a major economic opportunity for Welsh coastal regions, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and helping Wales meet net-zero targets without sacrificing our countryside.”
—
About CPRW
CPRW was founded in 1928 and is the oldest rural charity in Wales. We work to safeguard the Welsh countryside, support sustainable rural communities and promote renewable energy solutions that protect landscapes, biodiversity and cultural heritage.