The Crown Estate has launched a new tender to select a developer for the up to 1.5 GW Morgan offshore wind project in the Irish Sea.
The procurement is being conducted as a services concession contract under the UK’s Procurement Act 2023. A preferred bidder is expected to be selected and awarded development rights by the end of 2026.
Morgan was originally awarded in 2021 through Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 to a joint venture between EnBW and JERA Nex BP.
Development stopped in January 2026 after EnBW decided to withdraw from its UK offshore wind portfolio. JERA Nex BP acquired EnBW’s interest in the neighbouring 1.5 GW Mona project, while the Morgan lease rights were returned to The Crown Estate.
The incoming developer will take over a project that has already completed several early development steps.
Morgan secured its main Development Consent Order in August 2025. A decision on the joint Development Consent Order application for the transmission assets serving Morgan and the 480 MW Morecambe project is expected in September 2026.
The project also retains an active grid connection agreement with the National Energy System Operator.
Bidders will compete through a transparent rising clock auction based on a Site Exclusivity Fee. The fee will be submitted as a lump-sum bid but paid over 20 years from the start of the operational lease.
The structure is intended to reduce development-phase risk and allow the successful bidder to direct initial capital towards engineering and construction preparation.
Once operational, Morgan is expected to generate enough electricity for about 1.5 million UK homes. The project is also expected to support economic activity and create thousands of jobs.
Procurement notices have been published through the UK government’s Find a Tender service.
The Crown Estate said the Morgan tender is separate from Offshore Wind Leasing Round 6, which remains scheduled to open in early 2027 and target up to 6 GW of capacity.
