The Crown Estate has signed new contracts for surveys to be conducted in the Celtic Sea as part of work towards the development of the new floating wind farms.
The geophysical surveys are part of a multi-million pound programme by the authority to collate information and better understand the physical and environmental properties in the Celtic Sea.
The surveys will be conducted by Dutch firm Fugro and are due to commence this summer. The survey vessel team will use towed and hull-mounted sensors to collate information on the properties of the seabed and sub-seabed.
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The data gathered will then be used by developers as part of the planned leasing round for the floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea, helping to inform early engineering design decisions and manage risk. Developers will also be expected to use the survey results to support any future project level Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as part of the planning process.
Nicola Clay, head of new ventures for marine at The Crown Estate, said: “These surveys will provide a valuable addition to The Crown Estate’s world-leading bank of marine data and evidence, but they also mark an important milestone as we seek to realise the opportunities presented by floating offshore wind.
“The UK seabed is a complex ecosystem of natural habitats and vital industries, of which renewable energy is one part. As managers of this vital resource, a key part of our role is to de-risk offshore renewable projects and help to accelerate their development and the UK’s Net Zero energy transition and energy security as far as possible through engagement with the full spectrum of seabed users.
“We continue to support the UK Government as it considers the competing demands in the Celtic Sea, and look forward to bringing developers together again soon to set out the next steps towards realising the opportunities presented by floating offshore wind.”
The news comes as the UK Government looks to resolve competing demands in the Celtic Sea. In 2021, The Crown Estate set out plans to explore viable options for a potential leasing opportunity for the first commercial-scale floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea off the coast of south west Wales and the south west of England.
Aside from the surveys, The Crown Estate said it has also taken steps to help accelerate the deployment of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea including undertaking a Plan-Level Habitats Regulations Assessment process ahead of the market tender to reduce timelines and developer risk.
It said it is also working closely with National Grid ESO to ensure the leasing process has a coordinated grid connection concept.
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