Sumitomo has acquired a 33.3% equity stake in the Gwynt Glas Offshore Wind Farm, a floating offshore wind project being developed in the Celtic Sea off the coast of the UK.
The project is being advanced by EDF power solutions UK and Ireland and Electricity Supply Board (ESB). Located around 40 kilometres from the UK coast, the site is planned to have a generation capacity of up to 1.5GW.
The Gwynt Glas project covers the development, construction and operation of a floating offshore wind farm. The investment marks Sumitomo’s first participation in a floating offshore wind project, although the company has been involved in European offshore wind initiatives since 2014.
Floating offshore wind has been identified by the UK government as an important resource in supporting its Net Zero 2050 target. Compared with fixed-bottom turbines, floating platforms can be deployed in deeper waters, allowing access to stronger wind resources and expanding the potential for large-scale renewable energy generation.
Sumitomo’s participation in Gwynt Glas follows the company’s signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2025 with the UK’s Office for Investment, under the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, to promote inward investment in the country. The Gwynt Glas investment is among the initiatives under that agreement.
In its Medium-Term Management Plan 2026, announced in May 2024, Sumitomo said it aims to accelerate portfolio transformation, including investment in overseas energy solutions.
Sumitomo said it plans to continue developing renewable energy projects in line with local energy policies and market conditions, supporting sustainable growth and contributing to clean energy efforts in the UK and other regions.
Jun Minase, general manager of Sumitomo Overseas Energy Solutions SBU, said: “We are delighted to join the Gwynt Glas project. As a large-scale floating offshore wind development being advanced by EDF power solutions UK and Ireland and ESB, the Project represents an important opportunity to contribute to the energy transition.
“Leveraging our experience and expertise in both the UK market and the offshore wind sector, Sumitomo Corporation will work closely with its partners to support the successful development of the Project and enhance its long-term value.”
Last month, Sumitomo agreed to divest its equity stakes in three offshore wind power projects off the Belgian coast as part of a broader strategy to reallocate resources.
