New Offshore Wind Project Promises 2,000 Jobs Across Wales 2026

Key Points

• The Llŷr Offshore Wind Farm has been granted permission under Section 36 by the Welsh Government.
• The floating offshore wind farm will be developed by Cierco Energy in the Celtic Sea, near the Pembrokeshire coastline.
• Approximately 2,000 construction jobs are anticipated to be generated during the development process.
• In addition, more skilled jobs are anticipated after the operation of the wind farm begins.
• The project will include two test and demonstration schemes called Llŷr 1 and Llŷr 2.
• The two schemes will test different types of floating wind turbines intended for deeper waters.
• The project is expected to begin generating power in 2031.
• Natural Resources Wales issued the project with a marine license in June 2026.
• The Crown Estate granted seabed rights for the project in July 2026.
• The project could have a maximum of ten floating wind turbines depending on the exact design.
• Two export cables, each around fifty kilometres in length, could be built to transport the electricity to land at Freshwater West.
• Natural Resources Wales confirmed that the project should be developed in a sustainable way and with consideration for the environment and local communities.

Wales (Wales Times) August 10, 2026 — A major floating offshore wind project planned for the Celtic Sea has received approval from the Welsh Government, with around 2,000 construction jobs expected to be created during its development.

The project, being developed by Cierco Energy, has been granted Section 36 consent by Welsh Ministers. The approval allows the Llŷr Wind Farm to progress as a test and demonstration development in Welsh waters, approximately 35 to 40 kilometres off the Pembrokeshire coastline.

The project is intended to test floating offshore wind technology in deeper waters. Unlike conventional fixed-bottom turbines, floating turbines are installed on platforms secured to the seabed using mooring lines and anchors. This technology can allow wind farms to be placed in areas where the seabed is too deep for traditional foundations.

The approval was reported by Lucy King of Energy Live News in the article “Offshore wind to create 2000 jobs in Wales”, published on August 10, 2026. Energy Live News reported that the development is expected to create about 2,000 jobs during construction, followed by additional skilled roles after the wind farm becomes operational.

What has the Welsh Government approved?

The Welsh Government has approved the Llŷr Wind Farm as a test and demonstration offshore wind project. The development will be divided into two schemes, called Llŷr 1 and Llŷr 2, with each scheme expected to test a different floating foundation technology.

According to information reported by Business Wales, the project is the first major offshore wind development approved by the new Welsh Government. The approval has been described as an important step for Wales’s renewable energy ambitions and its efforts to support the transition towards net-zero carbon emissions.

The Section 36 consent is a key planning approval for electricity-generating stations of this scale. It follows two other important steps in the project’s development. Natural Resources Wales granted a marine licence in June, while Cierco Energy secured rights to use the seabed through an Agreement for Lease with The Crown Estate in July.

The development is expected to have a combined capacity of approximately 200 megawatts, with Llŷr 1 and Llŷr 2 each planned as a 100-megawatt scheme. Earlier project information stated that the two developments would be located in the Celtic Sea, within Welsh waters and offshore from Pembrokeshire.

Where will the floating wind farm be built?

The Llŷr project will be located in the Celtic Sea, offshore from the Pembrokeshire coast. Natural Resources Wales said its marine licence covers a site approximately 35 kilometres from the coast near Linney Head. Other project information places the wider development around 40 kilometres offshore.

The proposed offshore area is in relatively deep water, making it suitable for a floating wind demonstration project. A marine licence summary reported by Nation.Cymru said the site would cover approximately 45 square kilometres, with water depths of between 65 and 75 metres.

The project’s location is significant because floating wind technology is designed for deeper waters where fixed foundations are less practical. The turbines will be mounted on floating platforms and held in position by mooring lines connected to anchors or piles on the seabed.

The project will also require electricity export infrastructure. Natural Resources Wales said up to two offshore export cables, each approximately 50 kilometres long, are planned to bring electricity ashore at Freshwater West.

A previous description of the project said the cables would run through an export cable corridor and connect the offshore wind farm with the landfall at Freshwater West. The scheme could also include inter-array cables linking the individual turbines to each other and to the export system.

How many turbines could the project include?

The final number of turbines will depend on the project’s detailed design and the technologies selected for the two demonstration schemes. Natural Resources Wales said the project could include up to 10 turbines, each mounted on a floating platform and supported by mooring infrastructure.

A further marine licence report stated that the turbines could stand up to 300 metres above sea level and have rotor diameters of up to 285 metres. The same report said each turbine could be secured by as many as eight mooring lines and anchors or piles.

Across the full project, this could amount to as many as 80 mooring lines and 80 anchors. However, these figures describe the maximum scope covered by the marine licence and do not necessarily mean that every element will be included in the final construction design.

The marine licence covers the construction, operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning of the project. According to Natural Resources Wales’ published information, the licence remains valid until the end of 2060.

When will the project begin generating electricity?

First power from the Llŷr Wind Farm is targeted for 2031. The date is dependent on the completion of further development, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning work.

The project is being positioned as one of the United Kingdom’s early floating offshore wind demonstration schemes. Its purpose is not only to generate renewable electricity but also to provide an opportunity to test different floating technologies in real offshore conditions.

Cierco Energy’s project information states that the Llŷr developments are intended to demonstrate two floating offshore wind platform technologies. The company has previously said the combined projects could generate enough renewable electricity to supply approximately 250,000 homes annually, although the precise output will depend on the final design and operating conditions.

The development timeline means the project is expected to move through several stages before electricity generation begins. These include final engineering, environmental and technical preparations, supply-chain contracting, construction of floating platforms, turbine assembly, offshore installation and the connection of export cables to the electricity network.

How many jobs could the wind farm create?

The Welsh Government expects the project to create approximately 2,000 jobs during the construction phase. These jobs are expected to include opportunities connected with engineering, manufacturing, marine construction, port services, transportation, cable installation and offshore operations.

Business Wales said further skilled jobs are expected once the development is completed and operational. The long-term employment figure has not been specified in the available announcement, so the confirmed estimate currently relates mainly to the construction period.

The project could also create indirect employment through companies supplying components and services. Floating offshore wind developments require specialist platforms, mooring systems, anchors, subsea cables, vessels, maintenance services and technical support.

The Welsh Government has linked the project to its wider renewable energy and net-zero ambitions. Its potential economic impact will depend on how much of the supply chain is based in Wales and the wider United Kingdom. Local businesses could benefit if they secure contracts for fabrication, civil engineering, port operations and marine services.

A Welsh Government offshore wind action plan has previously identified the Celtic Sea’s floating wind sector as having the potential to support at least 4,200 high-quality jobs and generate £1.4 billion in gross value added through investment in ports, marshalling and assembly, cables, moorings and anchors. That wider estimate applies to the broader Celtic Sea floating wind opportunity rather than to the Llŷr project alone.

What did Natural Resources Wales say?

Natural Resources Wales granted the marine licence for the Llŷr Floating Offshore Wind Farm Project. The regulator described the scheme as a test and demonstration facility aimed at developing and testing emerging floating wind technology.

Ruth Jenkins, Head of Planning and Permitting Services and Marine Operations at Natural Resources Wales, said the organisation had a role in supporting Wales’s transition to clean energy while ensuring that projects were developed sustainably.

In a statement published by Natural Resources Wales, Jenkins said the regulator would seek to ensure that energy projects were developed with respect for the environment and local communities. She also said Wales had the potential to become a leader in renewable energy and that the organisation was committed to supporting the benefits of such projects while working towards net-zero targets.

Natural Resources Wales is the marine licensing authority acting on behalf of the Welsh Ministers. Its licence decision does not remove the requirement for the developer to comply with the conditions attached to the consent and marine licence.

The project will also need to meet the relevant environmental, construction, safety and operational requirements as it progresses. These requirements are designed to manage potential effects associated with offshore construction, cable installation, marine traffic, seabed activity and the eventual removal of the infrastructure.

Why is the approval important for Wales?

The approval gives Wales a major floating offshore wind project that can demonstrate how turbines may operate in deeper waters. The Celtic Sea has been identified as a potential location for floating wind because its water depths are generally less suitable for large-scale fixed-bottom developments.

The project also places Pembrokeshire within the development area for a technology expected to require specialist ports, marine services and skilled workers. If supply-chain businesses win contracts, the economic benefits could extend beyond the immediate offshore site.

The scheme’s approval also follows earlier national and regional planning for offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Llŷr projects were among the developments associated with The Crown Estate’s 2021 leasing round for floating wind in the Celtic Sea.

However, Section 36 consent represents approval for the specific project and does not guarantee that every possible element described during earlier planning stages will be built. The final number of turbines, platform designs, cables and construction activities will be determined through the project’s detailed development and regulatory conditions.

What is the background to the Llŷr development?

The Llŷr Wind Farm consists of two proposed floating offshore wind demonstration projects, Llŷr 1 and Llŷr 2. The schemes are being developed by Cierco Energy in the Celtic Sea, offshore from Pembrokeshire, and are intended to test two different floating platform technologies.

In March 2023, the Welsh Government announced consent for Wales’s first floating wind farm, located approximately 40 kilometres off the Pembrokeshire coast. The later marine licensing and seabed agreements allowed the project to move closer to construction planning.

Natural Resources Wales subsequently issued the marine licence for the demonstration facility. Its description included up to 10 turbines, floating platforms, mooring lines and anchors, together with up to two export cables bringing power ashore at Freshwater West.

The latest Section 36 consent is therefore part of a sequence of approvals and agreements rather than the project’s first regulatory milestone. The remaining work will include detailed design, financing, supply-chain arrangements, construction planning and installation preparations before the targeted first power date in 2031.

How could the project affect Welsh workers and energy audiences?

For Welsh workers, the most immediate potential effect is the creation of construction-related employment and training opportunities linked to offshore wind. The expected 2,000 jobs could benefit engineers, electricians, welders, marine specialists, construction workers, environmental consultants, vessel crews and logistics staff, although the number of roles available to local residents will depend on recruitment and supply-chain arrangements.

For businesses, the project may create opportunities to provide equipment and services for floating platforms, mooring systems, export cables, port operations and maintenance. The longer-term effect will depend on whether companies in Wales can secure contracts and develop the specialist skills required by the floating wind sector.

For households and energy consumers, the project is expected to contribute additional renewable electricity once it becomes operational. However, the approval does not by itself establish how electricity prices will change, because consumer bills are influenced by wholesale markets, network costs, government policies and other factors.

For coastal communities, the development may bring economic activity while also creating concerns about construction traffic, marine use, fishing, visual effects and cable landfall works. The marine licence and consent conditions are intended to regulate these activities, but the exact local effects will become clearer as the final design and construction schedule are published.

First power remains targeted for 2031, meaning the principal employment and electricity-generation benefits are expected to develop over several years rather than immediately.