Grid Other

In 2024, National Grid ESO published its recommendation on where the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 project development areas (PDAs) are likely to connect to the UK’s electricity grid. This recommendation sits within the wider Celtic Sea development timeline presented by Marine Energy Wales, alongside the opening of Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 in the same year. The timeline identifies three PDAs under Round 5, with PDA 3 associated with Equinor, meaning this grid connection recommendation directly affects the prospective Equinor Celtic Sea project as part of the coordinated Round 5 programme. By setting out where the PDAs are likely to connect, National Grid ESO’s recommendation provides an early system design signal on future grid connection points and infrastructure needs for these floating wind projects. For Equinor’s PDA 3, this marks a key grid-planning milestone during early development, clarifying how power from a future up-to-1.5 GW floating wind farm could be integrated into the onshore transmission network. This step supports subsequent planning and investment decisions by the Crown Estate, developers such as Equinor, and regional stakeholders as they progress from leasing and site development towards detailed grid connection agreements and enabling infrastructure in the Celtic Sea region.