Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

Floating Offshore Wind in Wales

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Oct 2022 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 8 recommendations 10 conclusions 2 reports

The Welsh Affairs Committee will be holding two evidence session exploring floating offshore wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea, as the UK seeks to harness its renewable energy potential.

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind in Wales HC 1182 8 Mar 2023 18 Responded
Fel y bo'r angen Ar y Môr Gwynt yng Nghymru - Crynodeb 8 Mar 2023 0 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 items
1 Conclusion Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea will not only be key to meeting the...

Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea will not only be key to meeting the UK’s Net Zero targets, it also presents an opportunity to bring significant investment into Wales and provide high quality jobs. If first-mover advantage can be seized for Wales the economic opportunity will be exponentially greater. …

Government response. The government acknowledges the opportunity presented by floating offshore wind and highlights its commitment to deploying up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and its work with the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce.
Wales Office
2 Conclusion Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

Developers need long-term targets and a clear pipeline of projects to unlock investment.

Developers need long-term targets and a clear pipeline of projects to unlock investment. Fully delivering on the opportunities for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea will require a high level of coordination across government and among public bodies. Given the scale and significance of this opportunity the UK Government …

Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of long-term targets and coordination, highlighting its commitment to deploying up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and its work with the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce.
Wales Office
3 Recommendation Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

The UK Government must set targets for floating offshore wind beyond 2030 up to 2045.

The UK Government must set targets for floating offshore wind beyond 2030 up to 2045. Alongside these targets it should work with The Crown Estate to provide visibility on future leasing opportunities in the Celtic Sea beyond the current leasing round and bring forward a strategy setting out how this …

Government response. The government acknowledges the impact that deployment ambitions can have for renewable energy deployment, but retains the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. It will continue to review its plans and work with industry through the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce …
Wales Office
5 Recommendation Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

The UK Government should work with the Welsh Government to identify the staffing and resourcing...

The UK Government should work with the Welsh Government to identify the staffing and resourcing requirements of consenting bodies necessary for the delivery of floating offshore wind at pace. Subsequent to this review, both governments should bring forward a joint plan and timetable for how these resources will be allocated …

Government response. The government acknowledges the need for environmental and biodiversity specialists and highlights the Net Zero Skills and Workforce Action Plan due in 2024, as well as the Welsh Government's review of marine licensing and consenting processes.
Wales Office
6 Conclusion Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

We recognise that investment in local supply chains must be balanced against accelerating programme delivery,...

We recognise that investment in local supply chains must be balanced against accelerating programme delivery, bringing costs down for consumers and compliance with international treaty obligations. However, the potential for wealth Floating Offshore Wind in Wales 29 and job creation in Wales from floating offshore wind is too great to …

Government response. The government recognizes the potential for wealth and job creation in Wales from floating offshore wind and welcomes The Crown Estate’s requirement for developers to provide supply chain investment plans as part of their bid for a lease, and the …
Wales Office
10 Conclusion Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

Developing regional port infrastructure for the manufacture and assembly of floating offshore wind components will...

Developing regional port infrastructure for the manufacture and assembly of floating offshore wind components will require significant investment but will be necessary for local supply chains and jobs. The full economic benefits of floating offshore wind should go to the region and not be lost overseas. To ensure this happens …

Government response. The government states the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) opened for applications on 30th March 2023 and any funding awards will be based on a project’s ability to demonstrate value for money and their ability to meet the …
Wales Office
11 Conclusion Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

FLOWMIS will be critical for unlocking private sector investment in Welsh ports and making them...

FLOWMIS will be critical for unlocking private sector investment in Welsh ports and making them ready for floating offshore wind. Investors require certainty on the UK Government’s commitment to this funding.

Government response. The government states the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) opened for applications on 30th March 2023 and any funding awards will be based on a project’s ability to demonstrate value for money and their ability to meet the …
Wales Office
12 Recommendation Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

The UK Government should set out a clear timeline for the allocation of FLOWMIS and...

The UK Government should set out a clear timeline for the allocation of FLOWMIS and commit to ensuring Welsh ports receive at least half of the available funding.

Government response. The government states FLOWMIS opened for applications on 30th March 2023 and that funding awards will be based on a project’s ability to demonstrate value for money and their ability to meet the strategic objectives of the scheme, but does …
Wales Office
14 Recommendation Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

To provide ports with the confidence to make long-term investments in infrastructure The Crown Estate...

To provide ports with the confidence to make long-term investments in infrastructure The Crown Estate should set further targets for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea beyond its initial target of 4GW. Alongside this the UK Government should set out its future funding commitments to ports beyond the allocation …

Government response. The government welcomes the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce’s recently published “Industry Roadmap 2040” and will continue to work with the sector, through bodies such as the Floating Offshore Wind Task Force and the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), to understand …
Wales Office
16 Recommendation Second Report - Floating Offshore Wind … Acknowledged

Wider decarbonisation goals should be considered when planning grid infrastructure.

Wider decarbonisation goals should be considered when planning grid infrastructure. The UK Government should continue to appraise National Grid ESO’s Holistic Network Design and follow-up exercise with this in mind and ensure opportunities for decarbonisation in Wales are not missed when decisions over where to connect floating offshore wind in …

Government response. The Government will continue to address recommendations to improve anticipatory investment and strategic planning of the networks through the work outlined in the Holistic Network Design (HND) and upcoming Future Framework Government Consultation Response. The HND offers a recommended design …
Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
19 Jan 2023 Edward Sherriff · Welsh Government, Julie James MS · Welsh Government View ↗
8 Dec 2022 Julie James MS · Welsh Government View ↗
23 Nov 2022 Dr Nicola Higgins · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
26 Oct 2022 Dan McGrail · Renewable UK, Gus Jaspert · The Crown Estate, Henrik Pedersen · Associated British Ports, Mike Scott · Blue Gem Wind, Tim Pick · Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce, Tim Stiven · The Crown Estate, Tom Glover · RWE, Tom Sawyer · Port of Milford Haven View ↗