Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
We encourage The Crown Estate to continue to work proactively with developers to ensure that...
Conclusion
We encourage The Crown Estate to continue to work proactively with developers to ensure that adequate leasing rounds continue to be offered on a regular basis in the future. Of most importance is that there is, as far as possible, alignment between the timetables being used by The Crown Estate for its leasing rounds and the timeframes which underpin developers investment decisions. The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy should work with The Crown Estate and energy developers to explore how there can be greater alignment of timeframes for, as well as clearer communications of, leasing opportunities. We also recommend that the UK and Welsh governments should explore mechanisms for more effectively distributing wealth generation from renewable energy projects to communities in Wales. (Paragraph 25) Subsidy schemes and finance
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The management of the seabed off the coastlines of England, Northern Ireland and Wales, including leasing, is the responsibility of The Crown Estate (TCE), which is independent of the UK Government. Created by an Act of Parliament, it is a statutory corporation that operates on a commercial basis. TCE has played an important role to date in expanding offshore renewable energy capacity in Welsh waters. It manages the seabed and is responsible for balancing a range of maritime and stakeholder interests when exercising its duties. Following engagement with the market, TCE has confirmed its intention to hold a new leasing round for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, focusing on projects of around 300 megawatts in scale. This will be an important step towards commercialisation of this technology and will put Wales at the forefront of the next wind energy revolution. TCE also recently announced that three 100MW floating wind test & demonstration projects (two of which are in Welsh waters) have passed through the initial application criteria demonstrating technical competence, delivery capability and technological innovation. These projects will now progress to a plan level Habitats Regulations Assessment.