The UK Crown Estate has named the regions in pole position for offshore wind development under a new Round 4 leasing process that it now says is likely to be larger than previously expected at 7GW.

The UK seabed landlord said it has identified five regions that it proposes to include in a new round – Dogger Bank, the Southern North Sea, East Anglia, North Wales and the Irish Sea (see map in carousel above).

They were identified “on the basis that they are technically feasible, include sufficiently large areas of available seabed for offshore wind development and have lower levels of development constraint”, said the Crown Estate, which is engaged in an extensive consultation process with the UK sector over the plans.

Four other regions were named as candidates “for further consideration” with more evidence work needed before their inclusion could be confirmed. They are the Yorkshire Coast, The Wash, the Southeast and Anglesey.

Nine further regions were effectively ruled out “on the basis that they are impacted by significant development constraints, which would be challenging to mitigate”, with factors cited such as defence issues, visual impact onshore and heavy shipping. Most of those regions are around Southwest England, with Northern Ireland also on the list.

The proposed priorities for development would keep the axis of UK offshore wind development firmly around its current centres of power – off eastern and northwest England.

Recharge reported earlier this week how ScottishPower Renewables, the UK developer owned by Iberdrola, hopes to widen its ambitions in the East Anglia area beyond the 3.6GW it already has planned there.

The Crown Estate said the next round could now be increased to 7GW from 6GW, as previously expected, “in light of strong market appetite and the desire to ensure a sufficient pipeline is in place”.

The seabed regions will also be extended to depths of 60 metres “after feedback from industry confirmed appetite for development of fixed foundation turbines beyond the 50 metres initially proposed”.

The UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector hopes to imminently conclude a ‘sector deal’ with the government to cement its key role in the nation’s industrial and energy plans, in return for policy visibility towards a 30GW installed base by 2030.

The Crown Estate, which has said Round 4 could kick off as soon as early 2019, will hold another consultation event with potential bidders on 26 November.

Jonny Boston, Senior Development Manager at The Crown Estate, said: “To reach this point, we’ve undertaken significant analysis, in close engagement with statutory stakeholders, to help build a detailed picture of seabed resource and constraints around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“We will continue to refine this work as we progress with our plans, helping build the evidence base to reduce consenting risk, balance a range of needs on the seabed, and ensure developers are well placed to bring the strongest possible projects forward.”

The Crown Estate Scotland, which manages the seabed in the devolved UK nation, is carrying out its own process there.

Wind

Crown Estate names regions on pole for UK offshore wind R4