The developers of White Cross offshore windfarm, planned to go into operation 52km off the North Devon coast in 2027, have submitted a planning application for onshore works to North Devon Council.
The proposed 100 MW windfarm, will consist of up to eight floating wind turbines. It is proposed that the onshore cable will make landfall at Saunton Sands and connect to the electricity grid at East Yelland substation. A new onshore substation unit is also being proposed nearby. This application follows the project’s offshore consent application which was submitted to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) earlier this year.

White Cross, which is a joint venture between Cobra and Flotation Energy, forms part of the Crown Estate’s Test and Demonstration leasing opportunity, which aims to develop and commercialise innovative, floating energy technologies within the Celtic Sea.

Al Rayner Projects Director, Flotation Energy said: “White Cross will play an essential role in testing new and innovative technologies to support the burgeoning floating offshore wind industry in the UK. We have been developing this site since 2020 and this consent application is a huge milestone.

“On track to start generating energy in 2027, the success of White Cross and similar projects provides significant opportunities for the UK to reap the associated economic benefits whilst also tackling climate change. It also helps secure the UK’s continued position as a world leader in offshore wind development.”

The full onshore application can be viewed on the North Devon Council planning portal: Planning application: 77576 – Council Services (northdevon.gov.uk)

The full offshore application can be viewed via the MMOs public register (case reference: MLA/2022/00113):https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk/mmofox5/fox/live/MMO_PUBLIC_REGISTER/search?area=3