Offshore Wind – The Celtic Sea Powerhouse
Talk by Kerry Hayes – Project Development Manager, Simply Blue Group.
Talk in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Entry £2.50 on the door – including a hot drink.
This talk is in the regular monthly Sidmouth Café Scientifique slot and also forms part of our Ada Lovelace Day celebrations. Ada Lovelace Day is an annual celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The Celtic Sea, located between South Wales and South West England, is set to become one of the UK’s most important renewable energy regions. Its deep waters are ideally suited to the next generation of floating offshore wind turbines, enabling the development of large-scale wind farms beyond the reach of conventional fixed-bottom foundations.
The Crown Estate estimates that the Celtic Sea has the potential to generate up to 20 GW of offshore wind power. For comparison, Hinkley Point C once complete will have a generating capacity of 3.2 GW. The first 4.5 GW of seabed leases were awarded in 2025. Initial planning indicates at least 1.5GW will make landfall in Cornwall.
Simply Blue Group (SBG) is a pioneer in floating offshore wind and has secured one of the UK’s first Contracts for Difference (CfD) for Erebus, a 100 MW floating wind demonstration project. Named after the primordial Greek deity of darkness and shadow, Erebus will showcase the technology that will underpin the future of offshore renewable energy. Each turbine will have a capacity of around 15 MW, stand approximately 270 metres from sea level to blade tip, the Eiffel tower is 330m, and be supported by a floating platform weighing more than 5,000 tonnes. The complete turbine and floating structure will weigh in excess of 10,000 tonnes. Their construction draws on decades of UK expertise in offshore oil and gas, marine engineering, and shipbuilding.
The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the Government on meeting its legally binding carbon budgets, estimates that the UK will require 125 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2050, up from 15GW of installed capacity today. Floating offshore wind, and the Celtic Sea in particular, will therefore play a vital role in delivering the UK’s future energy security and achieving Net Zero. As this new industry develops, it presents major opportunities for high-value engineering, manufacturing, and skilled employment across South West England and South Wales for decades to come.
Kerry is Development Director at Simply Blue Group (SBG), an Irish developer of floating offshore wind, sustainable aviation fuels and low-impact aquaculture projects. She played a key role in securing a 2025 Contract for Difference (CfD) for the 100 MW Erebus project. Kerry also serves on the Board of Directors of RenewableUK, the UK’s leading trade association for wind, wave, tidal and energy storage. Prior to joining Simply Blue Group, Kerry was a Senior Analyst at Regen, an independent not-for-profit organisation based in Exeter that provides expert analysis and policy advice to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero. She is also a guest university lecturer specialising in offshore renewable energy and marine licensing. Kerry holds a Master’s degree in Offshore Renewables from the University of Plymouth. Kerry is passionate about increasing female representation in the renewable energy sector.
