Floventis Energy has confirmed the start of public consultation on Llŷr 1, a test and demonstration floating wind farm situated in the Celtic Sea that is expected to power more than 100,000 homes.
At its closest point, Llŷr 1 will be approximately 36 km from the Welsh coastline, 55 km from Lundy Island and 72 km from the Devon coastline. With work on the Environmental Impact Assessment underway, public consultation on the project will run from Jan. 15 to Feb. 11.
Floventis Energy then expects to submit an application for consent to construct and operate an offshore generating station, with deemed planning permission for onshore works, under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. This process is managed by Planning and Environmental Decisions Wales on behalf of Welsh Ministers.
In parallel, a marine license will be applied for which is consented under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, allowing the developer to build and operate the project. The Marine Licence is administered by Natural Resources Wales Marine Licensing Team. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, subject to the necessary consents, says the company.
“With consistently high average wind speeds and good access to local ports and supply chain partners for construction and operations, the Celtic Sea gives Wales the opportunity to become a global leader in floating offshore wind,” says Olivier Marchand, project director for the Llŷr project.
“Our pathfinder project will pilot the development, construction, installation and operation of floating offshore wind. We have worked hard over the last year to engage widely with the local community, supply chain and consultees. This is now a formal opportunity for the public to have their say on Llŷr 1 and to let us know if there is anything else that we should consider about Llŷr 1, both offshore and onshore, as part of this work. The feedback received during this consultation will inform our detailed design of Llŷr 1.”
Floventis is a joint venture formed in 2021 by Cierco and SBM Offshore.
