Tender process in the Crown Estate’s Celtic Sea floating offshore wind is now open6 March 2024

The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) submission window is now open and the Crown Estate’s e-tendering portal will remain open for prospective bidders to submit their responses for seven weeks.

The PQQ will allow the Crown Estate to review the prospective bidders’ technical experience, financial performance and legal compliance.

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

The launch of the tender process follows the conclusion of the plan-level HRA last month.

It was concluded that, provided adequate mitigation measures are taken, the three project development areas will not have an adverse impact on any site designated as being of international importance to birds and marine life.

The proposed mitigation measures include:

• a limit on the sweep of wind turbine blades below 80m;
• enhanced and strategic management of noise; and
• If a developer intends to produce hydrogen, they will be required to develop measures to protect fish from being caught during seawater extraction.

Celtic Sea Blueprint report

A report on the infrastructure and supply chain requirements of Round 5 leasing has also recently been published.

This report, commissioned by the Crown Estate, indicates that the Round 5 leasing could generate a £1.4bn boost to the UK economy and create up to 5,300 new jobs.

However, the report also highlights barriers to a successful delivery, such as a lack of port infrastructure and supply chain issues relating to floating platforms, cables and vessels.

As a result, the Crown Estate is looking to bring key parties together to create an action plan for developing supply chain and infrastructure capabilities in the region and there are therefore significant opportunities for investment and growth in this area.

London Trainee Mia Langston also contributed to this article.