What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the Crown Estate and UK Government around embedding social value and community benefit within decision-making frameworks during the tender process of seabed leasing for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea?
I meet with the Crown Estate on a quarterly basis and my focus is on ensuring the Crown Estate consider every means to deliver benefit to Wales from developments in the Celtic Sea. This includes securing Welsh supply chains and local jobs as well as lasting social value and benefits to our coastal communities. Discussions have been promising but I have yet to see details of the tender process.
My officials meet with senior officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Wales Office on a regular basis to discuss delivery of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and associated government policy. There is a clear role for the UK Government’s contracts for difference process to support our aims, however there is concern among developers that strike prices are being set at levels which are incredibly challenging and do not allow for the delivery of additional benefits.