Crown Estate Commits £400 Million to Strengthen UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain

The Crown Estate has announced plans to invest up to £400 million to accelerate the growth of the UK’s offshore wind industry. This commitment will be delivered through two initiatives: the Supply Chain Accelerator Programme and a new Supply Chain Investment Programme.

The Accelerator Programme, launched in December 2024, awarded £5 million across 13 projects that focused on floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. Now entering its third round, the programme invites businesses to apply for up to £1.5 million in funding per project.

Each award will require 50 per cent match funding from applicants. A total of £50 million is available, with future funding rounds already in the pipeline as part of the broader Supply Chain Investment Programme.

The second initiative—the Supply Chain Investment Programme—is designed to support large-scale infrastructure projects essential to the offshore wind sector. This includes the construction of port facilities and critical supply chain infrastructure. The programme will be backed by £350 million, aimed primarily at construction but with flexibility to support development funding for larger, more complex initiatives that fall outside the scope of the Accelerator Programme.

Both funding routes target three main sectors. These include port infrastructure, manufacturing (such as turbine blades, anchoring systems, and maintenance facilities), and technology development, including research and development centres.

The Crown Estate, a commercially operated business that manages land, property, and marine assets on behalf of the Crown, plays a key role in shaping the UK’s offshore energy landscape. It oversees the seabed, leasing sites for wind farms, cables, pipelines, and even sand and gravel extraction. Its mission is deeply rooted in sustainability, supporting projects that align with national net-zero goals, enhance marine biodiversity, and encourage responsible resource use.

To date, offshore wind projects operating on Crown Estate-managed seabeds generate a combined 11.8 gigawatts of capacity. That’s enough clean electricity to power approximately 11 million homes.

‘The Crown Estate’s proposal to invest up to £400m in the offshore wind supply chain through two targeted programmes is recognition of offshore wind’s vital role in the UK’s clean energy transition and the many wider benefits it creates.’

Tim Pick, Chair of Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, said: ‘We welcome The Crown Estate’s continued commitment to the offshore wind supply chain and are excited about the investment opportunities which will be available through their SCA and SCIP.

‘An aligned and collaborative approach with industry and other public investors will truly help the sector deliver on the ambitions of the Industrial Growth Plan – growing our domestic supply chain, accelerating and de-risking delivery of projects, and boosting technology leadership.’