Funding for the development of manufacturing facilities and port infrastructure to enable swifter deployment of offshore wind around the UK is the focus of the second round of The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator.
Following the success of the initial funding round in 2024 The Crown Estate has allocated £15m for the next round of the programme which seeks to kick-start investments in offshore wind-related port infrastructure and supply chain facilities.
The Crown Estate established the £50m Supply Chain Accelerator last year to accelerate and de-risk the early-stage development of UK supply chain projects servicing the offshore wind sector.
It supports existing early-stage projects to scale up into attractive capital investment opportunities, helping to drive demand for new jobs and skills.
Following the passing of The Crown Estate Act 2025, this second round has been expanded to include UK ports and port-related infrastructure to support the construction, assembly, manufacturing, operations & maintenance, and wet storage of fixed and floating offshore wind, as well as supply chain opportunities that support deployment.
Ports are set to play a major role in the UK’s clean energy transition as hubs for the construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms. The Government has set a target of up to 50GW of offshore wind deployed by 2030 and, with 14.7GW of offshore wind currently deployed off the UK’s coasts, greater funding for port infrastructure and facilities will be vital to deliver this ambition.
The Government’s target includes 5GW of floating wind, with The Crown Estate’s current Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 expected to deliver up to 4.5GW in the Celtic Sea. The expanded scope of the Supply Chain Accelerator’s second round to include ports and port-related infrastructure as well as wet storage could support in the delivery of these targets.
In the second funding round businesses can apply for up to £1.5m per eligible project, with The Crown Estate providing 50% matched funding for early-stage development expenditure together with an option to participate in the capital investment phase.
The application process is now open and is due to close at the end of June. Successful projects will be chosen following an application assessment process and announced by the end of the year. The Crown Estate is being supported by professional services firm Grant Thornton.
Ben Brinded, Head of Investment at The Crown Estate, said: “The ambition behind our Supply Chain Accelerator is to accelerate and derisk the offshore wind supply chain in support of the UK’s clean energy transition, boosting economic growth through new jobs and skills opportunity around the country.
“Following the success of the initial funding round and the recent modernising of our investment powers through The Crown Estate Act 2025, we’ve expanded the ambition and scope for the second round of the Accelerator to include fixed and floating supply chain opportunities, together with ports and their associated facilities.
“The application window is open until the end of June, and we are looking forward to hearing from applicants with UK projects we could support to get investment ready.”
Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “The energy transition isn’t just about clean power; it also offers huge opportunities for new jobs, skills and regeneration across the country.
“With one of the world’s largest offshore wind industries and growing ambitions, we want to support the UK’s supply chains and infrastructure to be as successful as our deployed offshore wind.
“Ports are vital national assets which are key to unlocking the huge potential of our exciting clean energy transition. Providing funding for port infrastructure and supply chain facilities is an obvious and important next move for our Supply Chain Accelerator.
“It will help the UK’s offshore wind sector to retain its global attractiveness to developers and investors, providing confidence we can increase our rate of deployment whilst also ensuring activity offshore is creating value for onshore communities up and down the country.”
