Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Offshore wind project pipeline could exceed ambition, but not all expected to succeed.
Conclusion
The Department also told us that it is tracking offshore wind projects at various stages of development that could produce 80GW of electricity when operating, more than its 50GW ambition. However, it acknowledged that not all these projects would succeed. It told us that it has established an offshore wind champion and acceleration taskforce to identify barriers to this technology. The Department also told us that it works closely with The Crown Estate, and Crown Estate Scotland, which have responsibility for seabed leasing on which offshore windfarms are sited.23 It noted that the contracts for difference mechanism has resulted in increases in offshore wind capacity from 1GW in auction round one to 7GW in auction round four.24 Providing clarity and confidence to private investors