Floating Offshore Wind in Wales

Welsh Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Oct 2022 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 Parliament page
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.
8 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
2 Reports
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
26 May
2023
Report published
26 May
2023
Report published
8 Mar
2023
Report published
8 Mar
2023
Report published
19 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
8 Dec
2022
Oral evidence
8 Dec
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
23 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
23 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
26 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
26 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
19 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
Edward Sherriff · Welsh Government Julie James MS · Welsh Government
8 Dec 2022
View on parliament.uk
Julie James MS · Welsh Government
23 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Dr Nicola Higgins · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
26 Oct 2022
View on parliament.uk
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
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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
View details
2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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
View details
3 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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 to tackle barriers to deployment and enable collaboration in the industry.
Wales Office
View details
4 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
Consenting bodies will face a significant ramp-up in applications from developers of floating offshore wind...
Consenting bodies will face a significant ramp-up in applications from developers of floating offshore wind projects. In order to process these applications in a timely and coordinated manner and accelerate the delivery of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea … Read more
Government Response
The government references reports from Tim Pick and the Welsh government regarding skills, and states that the renewables industry is working within the Green Jobs Delivery Group to develop the Net Zero Skills and Workforce Action Plan, and that the Welsh Government has undertaken an end-to-end review of marine licensing and consenting processes with a final report expected at the end of October.
Wales Office
View details
5 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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
View details
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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 need for these plans to be commitments.
Wales Office
View details
7 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
We recommend The Crown Estate bring forward further detail on its supply chain requirements at...
We recommend The Crown Estate bring forward further detail on its supply chain requirements at the earliest opportunity to assist developers in preparing their bids. Alongside this it should formulate a credible mechanism for holding developers to their supply chain … Read more
Government Response
The Crown Estate intends to provide further detail in this regard at the next market update.
Wales Office
View details
8 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
Given the importance of ensuring local supply chains benefit from floating offshore wind it will...
Given the importance of ensuring local supply chains benefit from floating offshore wind it will be essential for supply chain requirements in Contracts for Difference auctions to be enforceable and brought into alignment with The Crown Estate’s leasing rounds. Contracts … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with The Crown Estate to coordinate their approach to supply chains, and future policy will be designed to maximize the development of a healthy, sustainable and secure Floating Offshore Wind supply chain, and that government makes decisions about CfD auction design considering a wide range of evidence.
Wales Office
View details
9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
The UK Government should reform future Contracts for Difference auctions for floating offshore wind to...
The UK Government should reform future Contracts for Difference auctions for floating offshore wind to include enforceable local content requirements as a condition of the contract. These requirements should be designed to align with those in The Crown Estate’s upcoming … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with The Crown Estate to co-ordinate their future approach to supply chains, respecting that local content requirements are illegal under WTO trade rules. Government makes decisions about CfD auction design considering a wide range of evidence to carefully balance the need to maximise renewable deployment and to deliver value for money outcomes.
Wales Office
View details
10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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 strategic objectives of the scheme.
Wales Office
View details
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 strategic objectives of the scheme.
Wales Office
View details
12 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 not commit to a timeline or specific allocation for Welsh ports.
Wales Office
View details
13 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
A consistent theme throughout our inquiry was the need for long-term certainty to provide confidence...
A consistent theme throughout our inquiry was the need for long-term certainty to provide confidence to the sector and unlock investment. Much of this investment is likely to go to Port Talbot and the Port of Milford Haven which are … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce’s Roadmap and the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme is open to applications, and will continue to work with the sector and will remove barriers to help modernise The Crown Estate’s investment capability to help unlock investment and growth in key sectors.
Wales Office
View details
14 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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 future port investment requirements and timescales. The Crown Estate intends to provide further detail with regard to future Celtic Sea leasing at its next market update.
Wales Office
View details
15 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
We recognise the benefits of a grid planned strategically for the whole of Great Britain.
We recognise the benefits of a grid planned strategically for the whole of Great Britain. However, the UK’s decarbonisation efforts should also be planned strategically and there are distinct opportunities that arise from ensuring floating offshore wind in the Celtic … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is already addressing grid capacity constraints and strategically planning network infrastructure through the Holistic Network Design (HND) and upcoming Future Framework Government Consultation Response, including consideration of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.
Wales Office
View details
16 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
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 … Read more
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 to enable the connection of 18 new offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 23GW and will be complemented by the Holistic Network Design Follow Up Exercise, which will provide recommendations for the connection of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.
Wales Office
View details
17 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
Strategic planning of grid infrastructure will be essential for accommodating future GW targets in the...
Strategic planning of grid infrastructure will be essential for accommodating future GW targets in the Celtic Sea. National Grid ESO have stated that proposals on how to develop the network in the region will be given when more detail is … Read more
Government Response
The government will deliver anticipatory investment through Ofgem's price control, allocating £3.1bn for network upgrades, and has appointed an Electricity Networks Commissioner to advise on further improvements, with an action plan due later in the year.
Wales Office
View details
18 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Floating Offshore …
Long-term targets and a clear roadmap for delivery, as recommended elsewhere in this report, should...
Long-term targets and a clear roadmap for delivery, as recommended elsewhere in this report, should be provided at the earliest opportunity to assist National Grid ESO in planning for improvements to grid infrastructure. Alongside this, the UK Government should continue … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is working with Ofgem and network companies to deliver anticipatory investment, and that Ofgem's price control will fund investment in the network for new connections, and has appointed an Electricity Networks Commissioner to advise on how to speed up consenting and regulatory approvals and will respond with an action plan later this year.
Wales Office
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 8 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 10
Deferred 1
Total 8 recs + 10 conclusions