Finance
Britain's Crown Estate Plans New Offshore Wind Leasing Round for Next Year
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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The Crown Estate will launch its sixth offshore wind leasing round in H1 2027, targeting over 6 GW in northeast England with fixed-bottom sites, supporting the UK’s expansion from ~16 GW operating capacity and ~10 GW under construction. Strong pipeline underpins 50 GW by 2030 goal.
Britain’s Crown Estate Announces Sixth Offshore Wind Leasing Round in 2025
Key Details of the Upcoming Offshore Wind Leasing Round
Announcement and Timeline
LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - King Charles III's Crown Estate, which owns Britain's seabed, said on Thursday it plans to hold a new offshore wind leasing round in the first half of next year.
About the Crown Estate
The Crown Estate, which comprises tracts of land and most of the country's seabed, is an independently run, commercial business, whose profit - seen as the benchmark for the level of public funding for the royal family - goes to the UK Treasury.
Details of the Sixth Leasing Round
Capacity and Location
The next leasing round, which would be the sixth to date, could accommodate a capacity of 6 gigawatts or more, largely in the northeast of England and in water depths suitable for fixed-bottom wind, subject to stakeholder engagement, the Crown Estate said in a statement.
Current Offshore Wind Pipeline
The UK’s offshore wind pipeline is one of the largest in the world, with current capacity of nearly 17 GW and a further 12 GW under construction.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Key Takeaways
- •Crown Estate to open sixth offshore wind leasing round in first half of 2027, offering leases for 6 GW+ of capacity in northeast England on fixed-bottom sites.
- •United Kingdom has approximately 16 GW of offshore wind currently operational, with ~10 GW under construction and nearly 40 GW in pre-construction, CfD-backed, and early planning stages.
- •The leasing round helps propel progress toward the UK’s 50 GW offshore wind target by 2030, underpinned by strong pipeline growth and recent Crown Estate leasing activity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain's Crown Estate plans new offshore wind leasing round for next year
1When will the next Crown Estate offshore wind leasing round take place?
The next Crown Estate offshore wind leasing round is planned for the first half of 2025.
2How much capacity could the new leasing round provide?
The sixth leasing round could accommodate 6 gigawatts or more of offshore wind capacity.
3Where will the new offshore wind leasing primarily take place?
Most sites are expected to be located in the northeast of England in water depths suitable for fixed-bottom wind.
4What is the significance of the Crown Estate’s profits?
Profits from the Crown Estate are seen as a benchmark for the level of public funding for the royal family and go to the UK Treasury.
5How large is the UK's offshore wind pipeline?
The UK currently has nearly 17 GW of operational offshore wind capacity, with an additional 12 GW under construction.
