The UK Crown Estate Announces £400m Investment in Offshore Wind Sector Supply Chain
The UK Crown Estate has revealed its proposal to invest up to £400m ($542.5m) of capital in the supply chain of the country’s offshore wind sector. This investment aims to support the growth and development of the offshore wind industry in the UK.
In its new Powering Offshore Wind publication, the Crown Estate outlined its plan to focus on making supportive investments in new onshore enabling infrastructure over the medium term. These investments will be directed towards the construction of new infrastructure, including ports, supply chain manufacturing, and research and testing facilities.
According to the Crown Estate, the lack of supply chain capacity is a significant constraint to further offshore wind deployment in the UK. By investing in and building enabling infrastructure, the country can drive forward its clean energy transition and create growth opportunities within local communities.
To facilitate these investments, a new £350m Supply Chain Investment Programme is being established. This program will invest in the construction of new port and supply chain infrastructure to support the accelerated delivery of UK offshore wind projects. Additionally, the organisation’s £50m Supply Chain Accelerator is supporting early-stage project development and has already awarded nearly £5m to 13 organisations in December 2024.
The second funding round of the Supply Chain Accelerator is currently underway, with up to £15m available for investment. The scope of this round has been expanded to include UK ports and port-related infrastructure, further enhancing support for the offshore wind sector.
Ben Brinded, head of investment at The Crown Estate, emphasized the importance of building out enabling infrastructure to accelerate offshore wind deployment, derisk projects for investors, and create local economic opportunities. The investment in the supply chain of the offshore wind sector is a significant step towards achieving these goals and driving the transition to clean energy in the UK.