The Crown Estate has confirmed that it will proceed with its program to increase the capacity of seven fixed-bottom offshore wind farms located in the UK and Wales. By modifying the rights to existing seabed areas, this program could generate an additional 4.7 GW of energy. 4n1u1i

This increase in capacity could generate enough clean energy to power up to four million homes and drive economic growth for the UK. The decision s the UK Government’s target of delivering up to 50 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Currently, the UK has nearly 15 GW of offshore wind deployed along its coasts.

The projects secured seabed rights either through The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 3 or the 2017 Offshore Wind Extensions opportunity, both aimed at efficiently unlocking additional offshore wind capacity by expanding existing wind farms.

All seven projects already have grid connections and infrastructure in place, enabling faster deployment. They are located within pre-established offshore wind areas and include: Awel y Môr, Dudgeon Extension, Sheringham Shoal Extension, North Falls, Five Estuaries, Rampion 2, and Dogger Bank D.

A comprehensive plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential impacts of the Capacity Increase Program on protected habitats. Following this assessment, The Crown Estate recommended to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero that the program proceed under a derogation, accompanied by compensatory measures to address identified impacts on marine habitats and species. This recommendation was approved by the Secretary of State.

In its recommendation, The Crown Estate stated that proceeding with the capacity increases is in the national interest due to their contribution to the UK’s clean energy targets for 2030 and the goal of decarbonising the electricity grid by 2035.

Gus Jaspert, Managing Director of Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “Our purpose is to create lasting and shared prosperity for the nation. Offshore wind allows us to do that as a driver of economic growth through job creation and supply chain development. Delivering the Capacity Increase Program is an efficient way to provide clean, secure energy to up to four million homes and further reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, which are often sourced internationally.”

“Balancing energy and environmental needs is a key responsibility that we take seriously, and we are confident in the environmental compensation measures that will accompany this program. Looking ahead, our collaborative Marine Delivery Roap is uniquely positioned to prioritisation decisions and minimise environmental impacts wherever possible.”