Llŷr milestone signals a major opportunity for Welsh engineering

Cierco Energy has signed an Agreement for Lease with The Crown Estate, officially securing seabed rights for the innovative Llŷr Wind Projects in the Celtic Sea.

The landmark agreement represents an important milestone for the two pioneering 100MW Test & Demonstration projects off the Pembrokeshire coast, which have the potential to generate enough clean energy to power up to 200,000 homes while helping to accelerate Wales’s transition towards a more sustainable energy future.

Since that announcement another major step forward for the project has been achieved after the Welsh Government granted planning consent for Llŷr. Securing both planning consent and seabed rights means the project has cleared two of its most significant development milestones, enabling Cierco Energy to bid into Allocation Round 8 of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme – a crucial stage in securing support for the delivery of the project.

Scott Harper (left) and Andrew Beer Image: Celtico

Scott Harper, CEO at Cierco Energy, said:

“I’m delighted to share an important update on the Llŷr Wind Project. Welsh Ministers have now granted Section 36 Consent for Llŷr — a major milestone that marks a decisive step forward for our Test & Demonstration project in the Celtic Sea.

Llŷr will deliver clean, renewable electricity, strengthening Wales’ position as a leader in offshore wind innovation. The project will create new opportunities for jobs, investment, and supply chain growth across the region, while building the capabilities needed for future commercial offshore wind projects and international growth. This marks the beginning of a new era of offshore wind deployment in the Celtic Sea”.

This represents not only significant progress for Llŷr itself, but another positive step towards establishing the Celtic Sea as a centre for offshore wind innovation and creating long-term opportunities for Welsh engineering, manufacturing and the wider supply chain.

The Llŷr Projects will provide an opportunity to test and demonstrate next-generation offshore wind technologies at scale, helping to develop the knowledge, capabilities and confidence needed to support future commercial developments in the Celtic Sea.

Demonstrator projects such as Llŷr are particularly important because they can help turn innovation into long-term industrial opportunity. They provide a platform for new technologies to be proven in real-world conditions while enabling supply chains to develop the specialist skills, experience and capacity required to support the growth of the offshore wind sector.

With its strong heritage in engineering, fabrication, advanced manufacturing and marine capability, South West Wales is well placed to play an important role in this emerging industry.

The successful development of Llŷr could help create opportunities for businesses across the region, supporting high-skilled employment, investment and the development of new capabilities. It could also strengthen Wales’ position as a centre of excellence for offshore engineering and innovation, whilst helping local companies build the experience needed to compete for work on future large-scale projects.

The Lease has been awarded by The Crown Estate, which has recognised the important role that projects such as Llŷr can play in advancing offshore wind technology, developing supply chains and delivering long-term economic benefits for Wales.

Andrew Beer, Chair of Celtico Engineering Solutions Alliance, said:

“The Agreement for Lease and the recent planning consent from the Welsh Government mark two hugely significant milestones for Cierco Energy, the Llŷr Projects and the wider development of offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.

The development of innovative offshore wind technologies has the potential to create significant long-term opportunities for Welsh businesses, supporting investment, high-skilled employment and the growth of a strong and competitive local supply chain.

Demonstrator projects are an important part of building the foundations for future commercial-scale development. They enable new technologies to be tested, help supply chains gain valuable experience and provide businesses with the confidence and capability needed to compete for future opportunities.

We believe the Llŷr Projects have the potential to become an important catalyst for the growth of a globally competitive offshore wind supply chain in Wales.