The Crown Estate Publishes Annual Wales Review

The Crown Estate has published its annual Wales Review, providing financial results for Wales, and outlining achievements in 2025/2026, which includes the securing of agreements for three floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea, an outstanding result.

Through Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, rights were awarded in 2025 to developers with significant international experience to progress three floating offshore wind farms that could provide 4.5GW of secure, renewable energy, and place Wales at the forefront of innovation in the sector. 

The Crown Estate's £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator initiative is helping to develop a vital UK offshore wind supply chain, and already seven organisations in Wales, from skills providers to ports and innovative companies, have received funding to ready them for Celtic Sea opportunities.

During the year, The Crown Estate met with a number of local authorities to discuss a move towards more collaborative, enabling lease agreements that will give leaseholders more freedom to deliver interventions that benefit local communities and nature.

Dan Labbad, CEO of The Crown Estate, said: “This has been an important year of progress for The Crown Estate in Wales, as we continue to grow our ambitions for offshore wind and the marine economy across the nation.

“Over the past few years, we have made significant strides to strengthen our operations through local partnerships, investment and engagement. Securing agreements for three floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea reflects these efforts, with the potential to create over 5,000 jobs and contribute £1.4 billion to the wider economy.

“At a time when conditions in the global market are unusually challenging and tenders in other countries have failed to attract interest, this is an outstanding result that shows what we can achieve when we work together.

“Like us, the new Welsh Government has a clear vision that the Celtic Sea opportunity must deliver long-term value for Wales and Welsh communities, and we look forward to building a strong partnership with Plaid Cymru Ministers to realise these benefits, together.”

The Crown Estate Act 2025 brought in new borrowing and investment powers which will help significantly increase investment in Wales, particularly in support of Welsh renewables and the supply chain over the next decade.

Commissioner and Wales Forum

The Act also paved the way for the appointment of additional Board Commissioners, including one with special responsibility to provide advice on conditions in Wales.

Michael Plaut OBE, a Welsh businessman with extensive leadership experience in the financial, commercial, non-profit and the public sectors, was appointed into the role, beginning in July.

In tandem, a Wales Forum consisting of six independent expert members has been established as a consultative Forum to provide independent insight, evidence and constructive advice to The Crown Estate’s executive team. 

Financial Results

The Wales Review, which sits alongside The Crown Estate’s Annual Report and Accounts published on the same day, also provides financial information associated with The Crown Estate’s work in Wales.

Operating profit across assets in Wales during the year was £210 million, driven primarily by short-term option fees from the Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 Mona project, which is primarily in Welsh waters off the North Wales coast. These option fees were time limited and have now ceased after Mona entered its pre-generation phase earlier this year. Excluding option fees, operating profits in Wales were £9.8 million.

Meanwhile, The Crown Estate is investing significantly to support the future of renewable energy in Wales, including £40 million* spent on pre consenting surveys to de-risk Round 5 projects in the Celtic Sea.

Since 2024, The Crown Estate has also invested £18 million in projects to support the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, including £5 million to support Round 5 Celtic Sea delivery. Seven projects in Wales have benefitted from this investment, which is part of a wider commitment to invest up to £400 million in a UK offshore wind supply chain.

Through its research programmes, including the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme, The Crown Estate has supported 11 research projects based at Welsh institutions looking at the relationship between offshore wind and nature, and £2.6 million was invested in the Morlais tidal stream zone at Ynys Môn.

Operating costs were £2.9 million, which includes direct spend on Welsh activities and an attribution of relevant central costs.

* These figures represent figures for all of Round 5, which is assessed as being 50.2% in Welsh waters

Ystad y Goron yn Cyhoeddi ei Hadolygiad Cymru Blynyddol

Mae Ystad y Goron wedi cyhoeddi ei Hadolygiad Cymru blynyddol, gan ddarparu canlyniadau ariannol i Gymru, ac amlinellu llwyddiannau 2025/2026, sy'n cynnwys sicrhau cytundebau ar gyfer tri phrosiect gwynt alltraeth arnofiol yn y Môr Celtaidd, sy’n ganlyniad rhagorol.

Trwy Rownd 5 Prydlesu Gwynt Alltraeth, dyfarnwyd hawliau yn 2025 i ddatblygwyr â phrofiad rhyngwladol sylweddol i ddatblygu tair fferm wynt alltraeth arnofiol a allai ddarparu 4.5GW o ynni adnewyddadwy diogel, a gosod Cymru ar flaen y gad o ran arloesi yn y sector.

Mae menter Cyflymydd Cadwyn Gyflenwi £50 miliwn Ystad y Goron yn helpu i ddatblygu cadwyn gyflenwi gwynt alltraeth hanfodol yn y DU, ac mae saith sefydliad yng Nghymru, o ddarparwyr sgiliau i borthladdoedd a chwmnïau arloesol, eisoes wedi derbyn cyllid i'w paratoi ar gyfer cyfleoedd yn y Môr Celtaidd.

Yn ystod y flwyddyn, cyfarfu Ystad y Goron â nifer o awdurdodau lleol i drafod symudiad tuag at gytundebau prydles mwy cydweithredol, grymusol, a fydd yn rhoi mwy o ryddid i lesddeiliaid i gyflawni ymyriadau sy'n fuddiol i gymunedau lleol a natur.

Dywedodd Dan Labbad, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Ystad y Goron: “Mae hon wedi bod yn flwyddyn bwysig o gynnydd i Ystad y Goron yng Nghymru, wrth i ni barhau i dyfu ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer ynni gwynt ar y môr a’r economi forol ledled y genedl.

“Dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi cymryd camau breision i gryfhau ein gweithrediadau trwy bartneriaethau, buddsoddiad ac ymgysylltu lleol. Mae sicrhau cytundebau ar gyfer tri phrosiect gwynt alltraeth arnofiol yn y Môr Celtaidd yn adlewyrchu’r ymdrechion hyn, gyda’r potensial i greu dros 5,000 o swyddi a chyfrannu £1.4 biliwn at yr economi ehangach.

“Ar adeg pan fo amodau yn y farchnad fyd-eang yn anarferol o heriol a thendrau mewn gwledydd eraill wedi methu â denu diddordeb, mae hwn yn ganlyniad rhagorol sy’n dangos yr hyn y gallwn ei gyflawni pan fyddwn yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd.

“Fel ni, mae gan Lywodraeth newydd Cymru weledigaeth glir bod yn rhaid i gyfle’r Môr Celtaidd gynnig gwerth hirdymor i Gymru a’i chymunedau, ac edrychwn ymlaen at adeiladu partneriaeth gref gyda Gweinidogion Plaid Cymru i wireddu’r manteision hyn, gyda’n gilydd.”

Daeth Deddf Ystad y Goron 2025 â phwerau benthyca a buddsoddi newydd a fydd yn helpu i gynyddu buddsoddiad yng Nghymru yn sylweddol, yn enwedig i gefnogi ynni adnewyddadwy Cymru a'r gadwyn gyflenwi dros y degawd nesaf.

Comisiynydd a Fforwm Cymru

Hefyd, gwnaeth y Ddeddf fraenaru’r tir ar gyfer penodi Comisiynwyr Bwrdd ychwanegol, gan gynnwys un â chyfrifoldeb arbennig dros roi cyngor ar amodau yng Nghymru.

Penodwyd Michael Plaut OBE, dyn busnes o Gymru sydd â phrofiad helaeth o arwain yn y sectorau ariannol, masnachol, di-elw a chyhoeddus, i'r rôl, gan ddechrau ym mis Gorffennaf.

Ar yr un pryd, sefydlwyd Fforwm Cymru sy'n cynnwys chwech aelod arbenigol annibynnol fel Fforwm ymgynghorol i roi mewnwelediad annibynnol, tystiolaeth a chyngor adeiladol i dîm gweithredol Ystad y Goron.

Canlyniadau Ariannol

Mae Adolygiad Cymru, sy'n eistedd ochr yn ochr ag Adroddiad a Chyfrifon Blynyddol Ystad y Goron a gyhoeddwyd ar yr un diwrnod, hefyd yn darparu gwybodaeth ariannol sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith Ystad y Goron yng Nghymru.

Yr elw gweithredol o asedau yng Nghymru yn ystod y flwyddyn oedd £210 miliwn, wedi'i yrru'n bennaf gan ffioedd opsiwn tymor byr o brosiect Rownd Brydledu 4 Ynni Gwynt ar y Môr Mona, sydd yn nyfroedd Cymru yn bennaf, oddi ar arfordir y gogledd. Roedd y ffioedd opsiwn hyn wedi'u cyfyngu o ran amser ac maent bellach wedi dod i ben ar ôl i Mona ddechrau ar ei chyfnod cyn-gynhyrchu yn gynharach eleni. Heb gynnwys ffioedd opsiwn, yr elw gweithredol yng Nghymru oedd £9.8 miliwn.

Yn y cyfamser, mae Ystad y Goron yn buddsoddi'n sylweddol i gefnogi dyfodol ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys £40 miliwn* a wariwyd ar arolygon cyn-ganiatâd i leihau risg prosiectau Rownd 5 yn y Môr Celtaidd.

Ers 2024, mae Ystad y Goron hefyd wedi buddsoddi £18 miliwn mewn prosiectau i gefnogi cadwyn gyflenwi ynni gwynt alltraeth y DU, gan gynnwys £5 miliwn i gefnogi cyflawniad Rownd 5 yn y Môr Celtaidd. Mae saith prosiect yng Nghymru wedi elwa o'r buddsoddiad hwn, sy'n rhan o ymrwymiad ehangach i fuddsoddi hyd at £400 miliwn mewn cadwyn gyflenwi ynni gwynt alltraeth i’r DU.

Trwy ei rhaglenni ymchwil, gan gynnwys y rhaglen Tystiolaeth a Newid Gwynt Alltraeth, mae Ystad y Goron wedi cefnogi 11 prosiect ymchwil wedi'u lleoli mewn sefydliadau yng Nghymru sy'n edrych ar y berthynas rhwng ynni gwynt alltraeth a natur, a buddsoddwyd £2.6 miliwn ym mharth llif llanw Morlais ar Ynys Môn.

£2.9 miliwn oedd y costau gweithredu, sy'n cynnwys gwariant uniongyrchol ar weithgareddau Cymru a phriodoli costau canolog perthnasol.

* Mae'r ffigurau hyn yn cynrychioli ffigurau ar gyfer Rownd 5 gyfan, a asesir fel bod 50.2% yn nyfroedd Cymru