Gwynt Glas Floating Offshore Wind Farm has signed a lease agreement with The Crown Estate, allowing the launch of the development phase of its floating wind project in Welsh waters. The lease covers an area located approximately 40 kilometres from shore, identified as suitable by the UK’s public landowner. The planned capacity of the wind farm is 1.5 gigawatts, making it one of the largest floating wind projects globally.
A step forward for UK floating wind
The agreement follows Gwynt Glas’s selection as preferred bidder by The Crown Estate in June. This lease marks a structural milestone in the project’s timeline, enabling the initiation of regulatory, technical and environmental work required for offshore development. No financial details of the transaction have been disclosed at this stage.
The project team reports having spent more than three years preparing the site prior to the lease signature. This includes local initiatives such as an educational programme developed in partnership with Pembrokeshire College, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and DP Energy. Since 2022, the programme has introduced over 200 students to careers related to floating wind energy.
Strategic positioning and industrial potential
The area awarded to Gwynt Glas is part of the UK’s broader strategy to increase electricity production from floating offshore wind. The country currently stands as one of the most active markets in Europe for this technology, with several pilot projects operational and a growing development pipeline.
Gwynt Glas’s management states that the project could generate significant benefits in terms of jobs and training, particularly in coastal regions of Wales. The project also aims to integrate into a local supply chain, although specific details are yet to be determined during the upcoming development stages.
