Opening the Celtic Sea

The Celtic Sea, located between the United Kingdom and Ireland, holds an estimated 50 GW of offshore wind resource. The 96 MW Erebus project, located offshore Pembrokeshire, Wales, is a flagship project planned by Blue Gem Wind, a joint venture between Total and Simply Blue Energy, to unlock the potential of this region.  

The project will feature between 7 and 10 turbines on WindFloat® floating platforms located approximately 44 km southwest of the Pembrokeshire coastline. 

The Erebus project will see the deployment of a fully industrialized WindFloat® and represents a stepping stone that will allow the local supply chain to build capabilities for the delivery of larger projects under development in the Celtic sea region.

When built, Erebus will power approximately 90,000 homes.

First power

2027 (estimate)

Project capacity

96 MW

Wind turbine

TBD

Wind turbine capacity

TBD

Operational design life

25 years

Distance to shore

44 km

Water depth

70 m

Project sponsors

Total Energies, Simply Blue Energy

Financing

TBD

Certification

TBD

A 50 GW opportunity in the Celtic Sea

Simply Blue Energy, a pioneering Celtic Sea energy developer, and Total Energies, one of the world’s largest energy companies, have established a partnership to develop floating wind projects in the waters of the Celtic Sea. The partnership will focus at first on a 96 MW demonstration project named Erebus.

The project takes its name after the famous ship built in Pembroke Dock in 1826, which went on to explore Antarctic and Arctic waters in the 1830s and 1840s before being abandoned during the Franklin expedition in 1848. It was rediscovered in 2014.

Developing the potential of the Celtic Sea is essential for the United Kingdom to achieve its net-zero goals; the Committee on Climate Change suggests the UK will need at least 75 GW of operating offshore wind capacity to reach the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050.

ORE Catapult estimates that a single GW of floating wind in the Celtic Sea could potentially deliver over 3 000 jobs and £682 M in supply chain opportunities for Wales and Cornwall by 2030.

We are delighted to have Principle Power as a part of the Erebus team and using the WindFloat® Technology. We value the experience Principle Power brings from their existing project pipeline. The project marks a significant step in developing floating offshore wind sites in Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea.

- Mike Scott, Project Managing Director, Blue Gem Wind