The Crown Estate launches Routemap for aligning the energy transition with nature recovery
An ambitious vision for how the UK’s seabed can continue to support the accelerated delivery of nature recovery and the transition to clean energy has been set out by The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The initial plans for a Marine Delivery Routemap have been developed by The Crown Estate, working alongside stakeholders, amid increasing demand on the seabed from sectors critical to the UK economy. A project led by the University of Essex, with wind farm operator Ørsted, the University of St Andrews and the Centre of Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), is currently exploring how wind turbines may affect biodiversity, carbon storage, and seabed composition. This research is expected to support policymakers make evidence-based decisions around the energy transition.
In developing the Marine Delivery Routemap, The Crown Estate is working with partners across a wide range of agencies and sectors with a view to enabling the seabed to support the growth of key industries alongside the creation of thriving biodiversity and marine environments.
A new generation of offshore wind
The UK is a world-leader in offshore wind, with the current pipeline standing at approximately 95 gigawatts (GW), including almost 15GW already operational.
To support the accelerated delivery of clean energy infrastructure in the UK, Great British Energy and The Crown Estate recently announced a new partnership which will utilise the strengths of both organisations to bring to market an additional 20-30GW of offshore wind leasing opportunity by 2030 – enough power for almost 20 million homes.
The Crown Estate has published its thinking on the Future of Offshore Wind on behalf of the Great British Energy: The Crown Estate partnership. This report sets out its approach to leasing this additional capacity for delivery out to 2040 in support of the UK’s net zero and energy security ambitions. It is seeking input and feedback from industry and wider stakeholders to help shape its approach to seabed leasing.
Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “Our seabed has the potential to re-power and regenerate the UK – to a flourishing marine environment, a green energy transition and create jobs and opportunities across the country. With increasing demands and pressures offshore, we need a forward plan to release the true potential of our seas. Our plans for a Marine Delivery Routemap mark an important step towards a more coordinated, long-term approach to managing the increasing demands off our coast in partnership with a range of industries and stakeholders.
“In addition, our evolving approach to offshore wind development is designed to help remove some of the barriers to deployment of important new renewable energy and provide more certainty to investors. We look forward to engaging with our partners as we move these plans forward in the national interest.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “We are on a mission to deliver clean power by 2030, with the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry playing a key role in getting us there.
“The sustainability of our seabed is critical to securing the UK’s energy independence alongside protecting the environment, so I welcome the ambitious plans set out by The Crown Estate.
“Our groundbreaking partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate will not only be instrumental in supporting this vision for the UK’s seabed, but it will also help leverage up to £60 billion of investment for our clean power mission - delivering homegrown energy and generating skilled jobs across Britain.”
Find out more here.
