Invitation to Tender Research and Development in the Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone

Tender description

Celtic Sea Power Ltd. (CSP) are a 100% subsidiary of Cornwall Council with funding from the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) and the Swansea Bay City Deal (SBCD) to develop ‘The Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone’ (PDZ). CSP is the seabed lease holder of the PDZ, an area located c.15km offshore from the South Pembrokeshire coastline of Wales and comprising a 90km2 area leased from The Crown Estate (TCE) for a period of 45 years. The PDZ is part of the Pembroke Dock Marine Project whose sponsor is Pembrokeshire County Council and project delivery partners include Port of Milford Haven, Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Marine Energy Wales. The project has secured funding up to the end of June 2023 to develop the PDZ and inform the next stage of the development pathway, working to secure the consents and progress towards securing the next stage investment decision for the zone. (https://www.swanseabaycitydeal.wales/projects/pembroke-dock-marine/) In response to changes in the marine offshore renewables market, including the rapid emergence of Floating Offshore Wind projects in the region, the project has been re-defined from its original purpose as a site for demonstrating multiple wave and tidal energy technologies to a site for the development of one or two Multi-connection Offshore Substations (MOS) or ‘Shared Assets’ that floating offshore wind generation projects being developed by third parties can connect into. CSP recognise that whilst there are significant levels of interest in Floating Wind, the industry is very much still in its infancy with less than 200MW in operation globally, showcasing two foundation technology types housing turbines of significantly less capacity than those being considered for deployment in the 2035 phase and beyond. CSP also recognise that in parallel, there is activity within Wales, the UK and beyond to integrate floating wind with other forms of generation, specifically wave energy which the PDZ as a zone was originally intended to be developed to support. In formal responses to regulatory consultations around grid co-ordination, CSP have made the case that supporting research and development and future cost reduction targeting activity in the development of shared assets should be factored in. Wanting to ensure that development activity both within and around the zone continue to strive to attract innovation, inward investment and return for its stakeholders, CSP are looking for support to re-assess the evidence base for continued Research and Development within the Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone.