UK, England, Devon: Flotation Energy and Cobra have announced that their pioneering Celtic Sea floating offshore wind project, White Cross, has received full onshore and offshore planning consent.
The 100 MW project, located 52 km off the Devon coast, will feature six to eight cutting-edge floating wind turbines, generating enough clean electricity to power approximately 135,000 households. Applications for development were submitted in 2023 to North Devon Council and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), following three rounds of public consultation.
North Devon Council granted consent for the onshore elements on 7 May, while the MMO issued a Marine Licence under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, enabling offshore works in line with the South West Marine Plan.
Sam Park, Senior Project Manager, welcomed the decision, highlighting its significance as the first floating offshore wind project in England’s waters. “This decision gives us a valuable opportunity to harness pioneering technology for the south west of England, spark local supply chain growth, and create jobs,” he said.
The offshore export cables will land at Saunton Sands beach before being buried underground along an 8 km route to a new onshore substation, connecting to the existing East Yelland substation. Trenchless technology will be used to pass beneath Braunton Burrows and the Taw Estuary, preventing surface disruption within these sensitive ecological areas.
White Cross is seen as a stepping-stone project, pivotal to the Crown Estate’s ambition to scale up and commercialise floating wind energy in the Celtic Sea. It supports the UK Government’s offshore wind and wider decarbonisation targets, while fostering regional economic growth and developing new skills in local communities.
Source: Flotation Energy
