Round 1 – The Emergence of a New Industry
In December 2000 The Crown Estate announced the first round of UK offshore wind farm development and in April 2001, eighteen companies pre-qualified for site development options. Round 1 was intended to act as a ‘demonstration’ round providing prospective developers with an environment in which they could gain technological, economic and environmental experience. Our procedures limited the area of seabed to be developed to 10km² with a maximum number of thirty turbines to generate a minimum installed capacity of 20 MW.
We did not determine Round 1 locations ourselves; they were put forward by potential developers on the basis of a range of relevant factors including water depth, wind resource and grid connection. Areas of high nature conservation value were avoided as were areas of seabed where existing activities and uses are potentially incompatible with offshore wind farm development. As a result, all the proposed Round 1 wind farm sites are in water depths of less than 20m, and no further than 12km offshore.
The key aims of Round 1 were to provide prospective developers with the opportunity to gain technological, economic and environmental expertise and on this basis the round is considered to be a success. A total of seventeen sites were awarded, with a total combined capacity of up to 1.5 GW. Also in 2002 the DTI requested The Crown Estate to make available a further site for a novel co-generation project off Barrow in the north west. The Ormonde project was originally designed to derive energy from both wind and gas reserves and the wind element is now under construction.
Eleven Round 1 sites are now complete and generating power with a total capacity of 962 MW online. Of the remaining sites, one is fully consented and awaiting construction whilst the remaining five sites (Shell Flats I-III, Scarweather Sands and Cromer) have been withdrawn due to difficulties with consenting, resource and ground conditions respectively. A further demonstration site at Blyth was developed prior to Round 1 and consists of two 2 MW turbines.
Round 2 & the role of SEAs – the opportunity for expansion
In 2002 DTI’s consultation paper 'Future Offshore' set out the Government’s policy direction and commitment to take a more strategic approach to offshore wind farm development. It set out the intention to restrict further development to strategic areas and undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA). Three strategic areas were identified; the Greater Wash, the Thames Estuary and the northwest (Liverpool Bay).
DTI commissioned an SEA covering these three areas. The SEA was completed in May 2003 and following consultation DTI requested that The Crown Estate make available seabed areas in these strategic regions for the purposes of further wind farm development. Based on the conclusion of the SEA, DTI issued guidance including a precautionary coastal exclusion zone of between 8-13 km from the coast to reduce the visual impact of development and avoid sensitive, shallow water feeding areas for certain species of sea duck. The SEA set out development scenarios limiting the total development possible within these three areas to between 4 and 7.5 GW (including the contribution from Round 1).
In July 2003 we announced a competitive tender process for Round 2 sites. The tender closed on 15 October 2003; 41 projects amounting to 27 GW of installed capacity were received. There was a further announcement in December 2003 regarding the successful developers and projects. The fifteen successful projects awarded Crown Estate agreements for lease amount to 7.2 GW and include sites within and beyond territorial waters.
Of the fifteen sites allocated under Round 2, the first (Gunfleet 2) is now fully operational bringing the total offshore wind capacity in the UK to 1,030 MW and therefore breaking the 1 GW barrier. At present a further four (Thanet, Greater Gabbard, Sheringham Shoal and Walney 1) are now under construction with Thanet, and Greater Gabbard scheduled to produce first power during 2010.
An up-to-date record of project status on Round 1 and 2 wind farms can be found on either our interactive marine map or the offshore wind farm table. Please follow the links:
 Round 2 Tender PDF (410 KB)
Rounds 1 & 2 Offshore Windfarm Sites PDF (480 KB)
Relocation and site adjustment
A number of Round 2 developers were faced with insurmountable obstacles at their original site and as a result were given the opportunity to apply to relocate their project. In some instances high level consultation provided sufficient justification for relocation. Alternative sites were agreed for the Westermost Rough, Greater Gabbard and Dudgeon East wind farms.
We have provided developers with the option to adjust site boundaries, in some cases by as much as forty per cent. This has been done to optimise developments and overcome issues that may have arisen since the project was first awarded, possibly as a result of site investigation and / or stakeholder consultation.
The most up-to-date, complete set of Round 2 co-ordinates can be found on either our interactive marine map or the offshore wind farm table. Please follow the links:
Round 2 procedural changes
A 2007 review of Round 2 sites both consented and being developed, particularly in the Wash strategic area, highlighted a number of outstanding issues which left unresolved could have jeopardised the proposed programme of development. In the light of issues such as those identified, and in order to maximise the opportunity presented by Round 2, we proposed a number of amendments to the Round 2 procedures. For more details please follow the link:
Downloads
Round 1 Agreement for Lease PDF (90 KB)
Round 1 Guarantee of Lease PDF (45 KB)
Round 1 Lease PDF (175 KB)
Round 2 Lease (2008) PDF (220 KB)
Round 2 Agreement for Lease (2008) PDF (160 KB)
Round 2 Lease for REZ (2008) PDF (220 KB)
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