Establishing a Floating Wind Reference in the Celtic Sea
The 100 MW Erebus project, located approximately 44 km southwest of the Pembrokeshire coastline in Wales in water depths of up to 75 m, is a floating offshore wind development by Blue Gem Wind, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Simply Blue Energy.
The project will deploy 7 turbines on WindFloat® platforms, generating enough renewable electricity to power more than 90,000 UK homes annually. Erebus was awarded the Contract for Difference (CfD) in the AR7 round, having been awarded a site agreement for Lease in 2020 and consent from Welsh Ministers in 2023 and will be the Celtic Sea’s first floating offshore wind project.
Erebus will leverage Principle Power’s track-record and experience to reduce delivery risk, and deploy the latest industrialized generation of WindFloat® to unlock the significant opportunity for floating offshore wind in Wales, Cornwall and the Southwest of England.
First Power
2030
Project capacity
100 MW
Wind turbine
Undisclosed
Wind turbine capacity
Undisclosed
Operational design life
25 years
Distance to shore
44 km
Water depth
70 m
Homes and Businesses Powered
90,000 (annually)
Project sponsors
Total Energies, Simply Blue Energy
Financing
Undisclosed
Certification
Bureau Veritas
Unlocking the Celtic Sea’s Floating Wind Potential
The UK Committee on Climate Change has indicated that at least 75 GW of offshore wind capacity will be required by 2050 to meet national net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. With technical floating offshore wind potential estimated at up to ~50 GW, the Celtic Sea is recognized as one of the UK’s most significant long-term opportunities for floating offshore wind, driven by strong wind resources, and proximity to ports in Wales and Southwest England.
From an industrial perspective, analysis by ORE Catapult indicates that deployment of 1 GW of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea could support more than 3,000 jobs and generate approximately £682 million in supply-chain value for Wales and Cornwall by 2030. As such, 100 MW Erebus is a core investment for the Celtic Sea and the UK.
The project takes its name from HMS Erebus, a vessel built in Pembroke Dock in 1826 that was later used in Arctic and Antarctic exploration during the 1830s and 1840s, reflecting the region’s long-standing maritime and industrial heritage.
The award of a Contract for Difference under Allocation Round 7 (AR7) brings welcome clarity to the Erebus project, enabling progression toward final investment decision. Delivery of the first phase is currently expected in 2029/30.
We are delighted to have Principle Power as a part of the Erebus team and using the WindFloat® Technology. We value the experience Principle Power brings from their existing project pipeline. The project marks a significant step in developing floating offshore wind sites in Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea.
- Mike Scott, Project Managing Director, Blue Gem Wind
The WindFloat® advantage
PerformanceFabricationInstallationInspection, Maintenance & RepairConnectionLocal CommunitiesEnvironmentServices
Project Development SupportConcept and Pre-FEED DesignFEED and Detailed DesignProject Execution SupportInspect, Maintain & RepairEnd of Life Services
