Crown Estate to Invest £400 Million in UK Offshore Wind

In a major boost to the UK’s clean energy transition, The Crown Estate, which manages King Charles III’s extensive property holdings, has recently announced plans to invest up to £400 million to strengthen the country’s offshore wind supply chain and infrastructure.

£350 Million for Infrastructure, £50 Million for Innovation

The investment will be split across two key areas. A substantial £350 million has been earmarked for the development of new port facilities and associated infrastructure designed to accelerate the rollout of offshore wind projects across UK waters.

An additional £50 million will be allocated to support early-stage offshore wind project development through phased funding rounds.

This commitment comes at a critical time for the UK’s energy ambitions, as the government pushes to fully decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. The Crown Estate, which holds ownership of the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plays a central role in enabling offshore renewable energy projects.

Supply Chain Bottlenecks Under Spotlight

Industry leaders have repeatedly flagged the lack of supply chain capacity as a major challenge in scaling up offshore wind deployment. The sector has also faced recent setbacks, including the cancellation of Ørsted’s Hornsea 4 contract - previously one of the country’s most ambitious offshore wind proposals.

Juergen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy, welcomed the announcement, stating:

“The UK is a global leader in offshore wind, which is key to creating jobs, driving innovation, and powering sustainable growth. This level of investment signals a strong commitment to achieving clean power by 2030.”

Ben Brinded, Head of Investment at The Crown Estate, emphasised the importance of coordinated action:

“Without strategic investment and collaboration, the UK risks missing out on the full economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind. These new programmes are designed to address that—by unlocking critical infrastructure and early-stage project development, we can speed up delivery, de-risk investor confidence, and strengthen local economies.”

The Crown Estate’s initiative is expected to act as a catalyst for private investment, providing a stronger foundation for the UK’s offshore wind ambitions while reinforcing energy security and supporting a low-carbon economy.