Morecambe

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero granted development consent for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets by making The Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets Order 2025, authorising construction and operation of the 480 MW fixed‑bottom offshore wind farm with turbines, inter‑array cables and offshore substation platform(s) in the eastern Irish Sea.

On 26 February 2025, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (through its Copenhagen Infrastructure V fund) signed a transaction to acquire full ownership of the 480 MW fixed-bottom Morecambe offshore wind project from Cobra Group and Flotation Energy, with Flotation Energy remaining involved as a development partner and closing subject to customary approvals and conditions.

In 2024, the developers submitted Development Consent Order (DCO) applications, including the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms: Transmission Assets DCO covering the offshore export cables, landfall and onshore grid connection infrastructure linking the Morgan and Morecambe generation assets to National Grid. This submission initiated the formal UK Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning process for the transmission assets, with the application made to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero via the Planning Inspectorate, as reflected in later references to the ongoing examinations and Secretary of State decision process.

Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd submitted an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets, covering fixed‑foundation wind turbine generators, inter‑array cables, offshore substation platform(s) and possible link cables in the eastern Irish Sea, to the Planning Inspectorate under the UK Planning Act 2008 regime.

Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Limited issued its Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) for the Generation Assets, summarising the project, site selection, design development, and key Environmental Impact Assessment findings based on available survey and modelling data.

The offshore ornithological survey campaign for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets was completed in February 2023, concluding 24 consecutive monthly surveys used to characterise bird use of the site.

Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd announced that the first round of non‑statutory community consultation for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets was expected to start in autumn 2022, following submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping request, to allow local communities and stakeholders to comment on the proposed project at an early stage.

In 2021, Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios and Flotation Energy formed a joint venture and established Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd to develop the 480 MW Morecambe Offshore Windfarm in the Irish Sea, after being selected together as the preferred bidder for a Round 4 seabed lease by The Crown Estate.

The offshore site for the 480 MW Morecambe Offshore Windfarm in the eastern Irish Sea was selected as part of The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4, establishing the specific development area approximately 30 km off the Lancashire coast in water depths of 18–40 m.

Cobra and Flotation Energy, acting through Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd, were selected as preferred bidder and secured a 60‑year seabed lease for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm site in the UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4.

A 24‑month offshore ornithology survey programme for the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets commenced, with monthly surveys starting in March 2021 to collect bird data within the future wind farm area.

Morgan Offshore Wind Limited (Morgan OWL) is identified as a joint venture between bp Alternative Energy Investments Ltd. (bp) and Energie Baden‑Württemberg AG (EnBW) to develop the Morgan Offshore Wind Project in the east Irish Sea. This bp/EnBW joint venture is one of the sponsors of the shared Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms: Transmission Assets, and therefore forms part of the ownership and development structure for the transmission assets serving Morecambe Offshore Windfarm.

Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd, the project company behind the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm and its associated transmission assets, is reported as being owned by Morecambe Offshore Wind Holdco Limited, which forms part of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ fifth flagship fund, Copenhagen Infrastructure V (CI V). This indicates that CI V, via the holdco structure, is the controlling owner of the Morecambe development entity involved in the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm: Transmission Assets project.