Vårgrønn urges UK to commit to 5GW of floating wind

Posted on 29 July 2024

Developer asks Labour Party to confirm its support for the technology in King’s Speech

Floating offshore wind developer Vargronn has urged UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer to reaffirm commitment to the floating wind sector in upcoming King’s Speech.

The developer has asked the recently elected Labour Party to commit to supporting the UK’s ambition to deploy up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030.

The King’s Speech set to cover development of the UK supply chain, technology for commercial-scale wind farms, and the government’s intention to increase the Allocation Round 6 budget pot for floating offshore wind.

Stephen Bull, chief executive of Vargronn, which is developing the Green Volt offshore floating wind farm off the Scottish North Sea coast, said: “The UK has ambitions to deploy up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030 and the Labour Party has already committed its support to the sector, describing it as a significant frontier technology.

“Now in office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer must urgently establish the UK as a global leader in floating offshore wind – we hope he will use the King’s Speech to announce measures that will accelerate the development of the UK supply chain, getting the technology ready for commercial-scale wind farms, and to express the government’s intention to increase the Allocation Round 6 budget pot for floating offshore wind.”

Green Volt is a joint venture between Flotation Energy and Vargronn and will have a capacity of up to 560MW.

Green Volt will provide green power to the UK grid as well as electrification and decarbonisation of oil and gas platforms in the North Sea.

The project recently received onshore and offshore planning consent, a grid connection and an Option Agreement, and is now eligible for the Contract for Difference Allocation Round 6.