Journey

Develop an offshore wind farm

Take an offshore wind project from seabed rights to decommissioning. Win a seabed lease, get development consent or section 36 consent, apply for safety zones, secure a grid connection and prepare a decommissioning programme.

Energy & Utilities Starting Updated 1 November 2026

  1. Secure seabed rights

    Win an agreement for the seabed from The Crown Estate or Crown Estate Scotland before you invest in consent work.

  2. Get consent to build and operate

    Your project's capacity decides whether you need a development consent order or section 36 consent.

    Offshore wind development consent orders Marine licence

  3. Apply for safety zones

    Ask for safety zones around the turbines for construction, operation and decommissioning.

  4. Connect to the grid

    Apply to the National Energy System Operator for a transmission connection and plan the export cable route.

    Grid connection for energy projects Grid connection agreement Contracts for Difference

  5. Plan for decommissioning

    Prepare a decommissioning programme when the Secretary of State asks for one.

Official guidance

Offshore wind (Crown Estate Scotland) (opens in a new tab)

www.crownestatescotland.com · Scotland

The Crown Estate offshore wind (opens in a new tab)

www.thecrownestate.co.uk

NESO (National Energy System Operator) connections guidance (opens in a new tab)

www.neso.energy

Offshore electricity generating stations: applying for consent (opens in a new tab)

DESNZ · England and Wales

Decommissioning offshore renewable energy installations (opens in a new tab)

DESNZ · England and Wales

Generating energy offshore (opens in a new tab)

MMO · England

Offshore renewables energy installations: applying for safety zones (opens in a new tab)

DESNZ

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