The Welsh Government has granted consent for Wales’ first
floating windfarm located 40km off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
Project Erebus will house seven next-generation 14 megawatt
turbines on floating platforms, providing enough low carbon
energy to power 93,000 homes.
Erebus is part of the first phase of a four gigawatt renewable
energy development in the Celtic Sea, enough power for 4m homes.
Future phases of the development could realise an additional 20
gigawatts of renewable energy, which will transform the way we
power our homes and businesses.
Blue Gem Wind, the joint venture between TotalEnergies and Simply
Blue Group is currently on target to begin operating the 100MW
Erebus project in 2026.
The project is part of a move away from an energy system
dependent on expensive fossils fuels and will contribute to the
Welsh Government’s energy targets and improving our energy
security.
First Minister said,
“We are ambitious for the floating offshore wind sector in Wales
– we believe it has the potential to deliver sustainable sources
of energy into the future and it is also a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to open up new markets for local suppliers and to
create thousands of high-quality jobs in Wales.
“The Erebus project has the potential to show the world that
Wales and the Celtic Sea can deliver renewable energy alongside
the sustainable management of our marine resources.
“In determining the marine license and the planning consents, the
Welsh Government and our partners in Natural Resources Wales have
enabled this project to move forward to apply for subsidy support
from the UK Government.
“I urge the UK Government to do its part through the Contracts
for Difference process to drive the industry forward by working
with the Erebus team to secure the first floating offshore wind
project in Welsh waters, bringing jobs and green energy to our
communities.”
Mike Scott, project managing director at Blue Gem Wind, said:
“We welcome the decision from Welsh Ministers to grant the
necessary planning consents for project Erebus and have been
working with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales and other
key stakeholders since 2019 to develop a project that is
sympathetic to the natural environment and minimises impacts to
local communities and stakeholders.
“Erebus, which will be the first floating wind farm in Wales,
will play a crucial role in advancing the deployment of what will
become a globally important low carbon technology.”
