Marine
Supply Chain Accelerator
A £50million fund to help catalyse UK supply chain capacity and capability for offshore wind
In June 2024 we established a £50m Supply Chain Accelerator fund (the Accelerator) to catalyse the capacity and capability of the UK supply chain in order to support a thriving offshore wind industry. The Accelerator provides early-stage development funding for offshore wind supply chain projects, supporting them to be investment-ready. Our intention is to run annual rounds with similar timings, subject to an annual review of sector needs.
Second round of the Supply Chain Accelerator
Following the passing of The Crown Estate Act 2025, we then launched an expanded second round of the Supply Chain Accelerator, building on a successful first round in 2024 where we awarded nearly £5 million to 13 organisations.
We increased the size of the second funding round to £15 million, with each successful applicant able to access up to £1.5 million of matched funding for UK projects that support the deployment of Offshore Wind.
We also increased the scope. Whilst the first round of the Supply Chain Accelerator was aimed at projects supporting the development of floating offshore wind, the second round was available to projects facilitating the deployment of both fixed and floating offshore wind.
In the second round, we considered projects or facilities that support the manufacturing, fabrication and late-stage testing of fixed and floating offshore wind components, aligned with the priorities identified in the Industrial Growth Plan.
Ports which can support offshore wind (including through wet storage and the fabrication of operations & maintenance vessels) were also included within the scope, given the role that ports can play as important hubs for the construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
Businesses could apply for up to £1.5 million per eligible project, with The Crown Estate providing 50% match funding for early-stage development expenditure. We also looked for the option to participate in the capital investment phase.
The application window closed on Friday 27 June 2025. Successful projects will be announced before the end of the year following assessment of applications, completion of funding and commitment agreements and necessary approvals.
Application process
In April, May and June we hosted webinars covering:
Information on eligibility criteria. View webinar slides here.
The application process and the funding and commitment agreements. View webinar slides here.
If you have a question please email accelerator@thecrownestate.co.uk and a member of the team will be in touch. Alternatively, you can browse the frequently asked questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Organisations registered in the UK with a UK presence.
In cases of consortiums or the creation of special purpose vehicles, a lead applicant must be identified.
Applications will be assessed from Summer 2025 onwards with applicants informed of the outcome before the end of the year.
We are looking to fund the development phase for new facilities to support the deployment of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind-related port infrastructure and supply chain facilities across the UK.
Eligible activities within the development phase include: market research, market assessment, business planning, concept design, site selection, site investigations, surveys, submissions of planning applications, technical studies, environmental studies, design feasibility, feasibility studies, modelling studies and investment case development.
The scope is to support eligible projects and facilities which:
Align with the UK Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan’s (IGP) priority manufacturing industries sub-sectors, i.e. factories, manufacturing plants or tooling and fabrication facilities to support:
Advanced Turbine Technology (blades and towers)
Industrialised Foundations and Substructures (foundations, moorings and anchors)
Future Electrical Systems and Cables (array and export cables)
Next Gen installation, operation and maintenance to support the UK offshore wind market
Smart environmental services
Meet the late-stage component test or demonstration facilities as outlined in the IGP recommendations e.g. facilities associated with WinDDHub or ATTI to support the UK offshore wind market.
Provide offshore wind crew transfer vessel (CTV)/ service operation vessel (SOV) fabrication facilities & associated infrastructure.
Encompass offshore wind fixed and floating suitable ports infrastructure including (i) ports for construction, assembly, integration/ commissioning, marshalling, operations and maintenance (ii) wet storage and (iii) ports to support manufacturing and import/export activities to support the UK offshore wind market.
The Supply Chain Accelerator will provide up to 50% of eligible costs as matched investment funding to help early-stage development projects become ‘investment-ready’.
This funding is not a grant. If a project is successful in reaching the capital investment phase, The Crown Estate will be entitled to a stake in the commercial project or a fixed return on its investment, (see Funding and Commitment Agreements terms), as well as considering further investment at that stage.
We will be asking for information to support our assessment process and subsidy control obligations, including:
Your organisation (and any other organisations joining you to make the application)
Project information including your plans to develop, build and operate the facility proposed in your application
How your proposals would add supply chain capacity relevant to offshore wind-related port infrastructure and supply chain facilities
Detailed plans for the development phase of the facility
Key financial metrics and expected sources of funding
All information provided as part of your application will be kept confidential.
The Crown Estate will not put restrictions on the use of non-UK contractors or partners, but applicants should note the Supply Chain Accelerator objectives and guidance criteria:
- Is the applicant registered in the UK?
- Is the project to be located in the UK?
- Will the project benefit the UK offshore wind industry?
Please explain in your application why you elected to work with specific project participants, including (if applicable) reasons for non-UK entity participation.