Inspenet, October 5, 2023.
White Cross Offshore Windfarm Limited, a collaboration between Cobra and Flotation Energy , has taken a significant step in the project’s progression by submitting an onshore permit application to North Devon Council.
About the White Cross project
The 100MW White Cross floating offshore wind farm project, proposed at a location 52km off the north Devon coast, will consist of 6 to 8 state-of-the-art floating wind turbines. Once operational, this park will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 135,000 local homes.
The corresponding cable route has been selected after extensive consultation and feedback. The cable is planned to touch down at Saunton Sands, establishing a connection to the electricity grid at the East Yelland substation. To ensure the efficient transfer of energy to the grid, the construction of a new onshore substation in the vicinity of the existing East Yelland substation has also been proposed.
The expansion of floating offshore wind represents a valuable opportunity for the UK, particularly the South West region and this opportunity is well documented. The White Cross project is an integral part of the Crown Estate’s test and demonstration programme, which aims to boost the development and commercialization of innovative floating energy technologies in the Celtic Sea.
This project will play a key role in supporting the growth of a regional supply chain in the South West of England, whilst generating new employment opportunities and encouraging skills development in local communities. Additionally, by serving as a key springboard, the White Cross floating wind project will contribute to the growth of future offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea region and surrounding areas.
Al Rayner project manager, Flotation Energy, said:
“White Cross will play an essential role in testing new and innovative technologies to support the UK’s burgeoning floating offshore wind industry. We have been developing this site since 2020 and this consent request is a huge milestone”.
“On track to begin generating power in 2027, the success of White Cross and similar projects provides significant opportunities for the UK to reap the associated economic benefits while tackling climate change. It also helps ensure the continued position of the country as a world leader in the development of offshore wind energy .”
Similarly, a Cobra company spokesperson said:
“ We are delighted to take the next step in the development of White Cross, a project that aims to provide secure supply and sustainable energy for the UK and beyond .”
“Our partnership with Flotation Energy builds on the previous success of floating wind energy and utilizing our shared knowledge and understanding will provide a significant advantage as we build a high-quality, efficient portfolio of developments.”
It is worth noting that this project supports the UK Government’s goal of achieving a capacity of 5 GW of energy from renewable sources. floating offshore wind energy by 2035, in line with the general objectives of reducing carbon emissions and guaranteeing energy security.
The submission of this onshore planning application follows the offshore operations consent application which was submitted to the Marine Management Organization (MMO) earlier this year and the formal consultation process is currently ongoing for both applications .
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