Burges Salmon Leads Blue Gem Wind on Wales’ First Floating Wind Project, Powering Thousands of Homes

Welsh Government Kicks Off Floating Wind Farm – A Big Power Move for Wales

In a sunny whirlwind of approvals, the Welsh government has given the green light to a floating wind farm off Pembrokeshire, capable of energising more than 90,000 homes. The project, dubbed Erebus, is big news for the coastal region and a touchstone for the UK’s ambitious net‑zero goals.

Blue Gem Wind & TotalEnergies: Teaming Up for a 100 MW Hub

Blue Gem Wind – the joint venture between TotalEnergies and Simply Blue Group – is steering the project’s ship.
Burges Salmon is lending legal muscle, guiding the duo through the labyrinth of offshore and onshore consents.

Why Erebus Matters

Think of Erebus as the first stepping stone onto a much wider floating wind road in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate plans a 4 GW licensing round for offshore wind in early 2023, with a future 20 GW floating wave on the horizon. This project will show that Wales and South‑West England can’t just talk green – they can fry their turbines out of the sea.

Stand‑by for the Sea – The Timeline

17 Feb 2023: Marine licence awarded to Blue Gem Wind.
7 Mar 2023: Onshore planning permission granted.
Location: roughly 28 miles off Pembrokeshire’s coast.

Riding Massive Waves of Possibility

Independent studies point to a staggering 50 GW of potential power in the Celtic Sea’s waters. Erebus opens low‑carbon supply chains, supports local communities, and promises lasting benefits to the whole region.

Lawyers Behind the Curtain

Burges Salmon’s legal squad, headed by Ross Fairley (Head of Renewable Energy & Chair of Net Zero Services) and Julian Boswall (Planning team partner), delivered the licence application. Fairley says, “Helping Blue Gem Wind secure this marine licence feels like handing Wales a keys‑to‑the‑fore‑the‑future experience.”

Political Brush‑Up

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford commented: “Erebus shows we can combine energy generation with marine stewardship. Our Welsh government and Natural Resources Wales paved the route for subsidy support.” He urged the UK government to push a Contracts for Difference deal to push this historic floating wind project forward.

A UK Government spokesperson added: “We’re on a mission to build on the UK’s floating wind leadership. The British Energy Security Strategy aims at up to 5 GW of floating wind by 2030 – the world’s first and biggest projects.”