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Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) Commission is set to convene industry leaders and Government officials at Falmouth Harbour tomorrow to tackle barriers to port expansion which are blocking FLOW investment into the region. The meeting, due to take place on 4 September, will build on the strong foundation of collaboration in the region, to identify shared opportunities to develop port infrastructure and catalyse regional transformation. It will focus on the theme of ‘unlocking the region’s port potential’ and aims to identify financial and non-financial solutions to support FLOW deployment at scale.
Jan Ward, chair of the Cornwall FLOW Commission ahead of the summit, said: “There have been tremendous strides in recent months towards a new FLOW industry that delivers significant value to Cornwall. With developments such as the announcement of the winners of The Crown Estate’s Leasing Round 5 competition, we are closer than ever to realising our vision. Our success though hinges on ensuring that our ports are ready to support the opportunities ahead, and that is exactly what this meeting seeks to address.”
The meeting builds on the first convened meeting of the Cornwall FLOW Commission in December 2024, which produced an unprecedented Statement of Common Ground. The statement affirmed that co-location of standard fishing practices within FLOW sites is currently unviable.
Greater strategic alignmentThere is a strong will to address this in the longer term through cross-sector co-creation, ecosystem design, and shared data transparency. In bringing FLOW industry, fishing industry and environmental authorities together to acknowledge the current position and consider future ambitions, the meeting marked progress towards greater strategic alignment in the region. The Cornwall FLOW Commission hope the upcoming summit will yield similar results by supporting a bold new plan to get Cornwall’s ports future-ready, co-developed by key regional decision makers.
Cllr Rory Gow, representing Cornwall Council on the Commission, said: “Our focus on partnership, place-based solutions, and a clear-eyed view of delivery has positioned Cornwall as a leader in the UK’s clean energy future. The Commission is ensuring Cornwall is not only capitalising on the opportunities presented by this burgeoning new industry, but helping to shape national action.”
The Cornwall FLOW Commission, alongside Cornwall Council and Celtic Sea Power, recently hosted a fact-finding visit by Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry, where she learnt first-hand about the region’s FLOW ambitions. Following the visit, the Minister welcomed Cornwall’s readiness status and leadership in FLOW strategy, reinforcing Cornwall's critical role in supporting the UK’s clean energy targets.