The Crown Estate announced it will put the Morgan offshore wind farm site back on the market through a competitive bidding process starting next month. The entity expects to select a new developer for the project before the end of 2026.
The project, located in the Irish Sea, has the potential to generate up to 1.5 GW of renewable electricity. This capacity would be enough to power approximately 1.5 million homes and bolster clean energy production in the UK.
A strategic project for British offshore wind energy
The site was initially awarded during the fourth round of offshore wind energy leases in 2021. However, development was halted in January 2026, prompting The Crown Estate to evaluate various alternatives to harness the asset’s potential once again.
Since then, the organization responsible for managing much of the British seabed has studied mechanisms to ensure that the project continues to contribute to national energy goals and the growth of the offshore industry.
Morgan offshore wind farm makes progress in its regulatory process
The project received a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the wind farm in August 2025. In addition, it continues to await a regulatory decision on the transmission assets associated with the facility.
This application was submitted in conjunction with the transmission infrastructure for the 480 MW Morecambe offshore wind farm. The corresponding decision is expected in September of this year.
Likewise, the site currently has a connection agreement with the national electricity grid managed by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), an element that could facilitate the interest of future developers.
New information to attract developers
The Crown Estate indicated that it will soon provide additional information on the technical conditions of the site, the bidding process and the planned business model for the project.
The organization clarified that this call for bids will be conducted independently of the sixth round of offshore wind leases, which is scheduled to launch in the first half of next year. According to the organization, both processes will follow separate timelines.
Offshore wind power strengthens the UK’s energy mix
During the presentation of the initiative, Gus Jaspert, managing director of the marine division of The Crown Estate, highlighted the importance of offshore wind energy for the British economy and energy security.
He explained that the sector continues to strengthen itself as one of the main drivers of renewable electricity generation and industrial development in the country.
The most recent data supports this trend; the UK Offshore Wind Energy Report 2025 indicates that this technology contributed approximately 18% of all electricity consumed in the country during that year.
In addition, offshore wind generation reached 52 TWh, enough to supply energy to approximately 15.5 million homes, reinforcing its position as the UK’s main source of renewable energy.
Source and photo: Thecrownestate
