The Crown Estate has today presented its proposal to invest up to £400 million in the UK's offshore wind supply chain. Launched in time for the first day of the Global Offshore Wind conference in London, The Crown Estate's new publication, Powering Offshore Wind, details its proposal to focus on medium-term investments in enabling onshore infrastructure.

These investments aim to support the construction of new infrastructure, including ports, supply chain manufacturing, and research and testing facilities, to facilitate the deployment of offshore wind energy across the UK.

A new £350 million Supply Chain Investment Programme is being established to invest in the construction of new port and supply chain infrastructure that will support the accelerated delivery of offshore wind projects in the UK. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of its investments, The Crown Estate will collaborate with private and public sector organizations, including Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund.

Additionally, The Crown Estate's £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator supports the development of early-stage projects and is currently in its second funding round. Having awarded nearly £5 million to 13 organizations in December 2024, this second round seeks to grant up to £15 million and has an expanded scope to include UK ports and port-related infrastructure.

Ben Brinded, Director of Investments at The Crown Estate, stated, "We will not fully realize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of offshore wind without collaboration and investment in the UK's supply chain. Developing enabling infrastructure is crucial if we are to accelerate deployment along our coasts, reduce project risks for investors, and create local economic opportunities."