The Crown Estate has launched an accelerated tender for the 1.5GW Morgan offshore wind site in the Irish Sea, with a replacement developer potentially selected by the end of the year, according to Splash247.
Background and Developer Withdrawal
The tender follows the withdrawal of EnBW and JERA Nex BP from the project earlier in 2026. In June 2026, the Crown Estate confirmed its intention to return the site to the market via a new competitive process. The move aims to quickly fill the gap left by the departing developers.
Development Milestones
Morgan has already passed several key development stages. The wind farm secured a development consent order in August 2025, while a decision on the transmission infrastructure is expected in September 2026. The transmission application was submitted jointly with the grid connection assets for the neighbouring 480MW Morecambe offshore wind project, Splash247 reported.
"By launching an accelerated tender process, we’re offering developers the potential opportunity to take forward a project with substantial consenting and grid progress already in place," said Gus Jaspert, managing director for marine at The Crown Estate.
Tender Process Details
Bidders will compete through a rising-clock auction, with offers determining a site exclusivity fee. The successful developer will only begin paying the fee once the project enters into lease, with the lump-sum amount spread over 20 years from the lease commencement date. The winning bidder will receive seabed rights under a 10-year agreement for lease. Subject to meeting required conditions, the developer will then have the option to enter into a lease covering construction and operation of the offshore wind farm.
The Crown Estate said it could not provide a maximum contract value because the eventual value of the concession to the developer could not be predicted.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site capacity | 1.5 GW |
| Location | Irish Sea |
| Previous developers | EnBW, JERA Nex BP |
| Development consent | August 2025 |
| Transmission decision expected | September 2026 |
| Auction method | Rising-clock |
| Payment start | On lease entry |
| Payment period | 20 years from lease commencement |
| Initial lease term | 10-year agreement for lease |
| Developer selection target | End of 2026 |
Separate from Round 6
The Morgan tender is separate from the sixth offshore wind leasing round, which will offer around 6GW of capacity off northeast England and is expected to begin in the first half of 2027, Splash247 reported.
For commodity traders and energy analysts, this tender represents an opportunity to monitor offshore wind investment trends in the UK, which affect long-term power generation mix and renewable energy certificate markets. The accelerated process reduces development risk for the winning bidder, potentially influencing project finance structures and equipment procurement timelines.
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