Sumitomo has acquired a 33.3% equity stake in the Gwynt Glas Offshore Wind Farm, which is being developed by EDF power solutions UK and Ireland and Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in the Celtic Sea, off the coast of the UK.
The site is planned to have a generation capacity of up to 1.5GW and is located approximately 40km from the UK coast.
The Gwynt Glas project involves the development, construction, and operation of a floating offshore wind farm.
This marks its first investment in a floating offshore wind project, although the company has previously participated in European offshore wind initiatives since 2014.
Floating offshore wind technology has been highlighted by the UK government as a key resource to help meet its Net Zero 2050 target.
Unlike fixed-bottom turbines, floating platforms can access wind resources in deeper waters, increasing the potential for large-scale renewable energy generation.
Sumitomo’s move to join the Gwynt Glas project follows the company's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) 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 investment in Gwynt Glas is among the initiatives under this agreement.
The company outlined in its Medium-Term Management Plan 2026, announced in May 2024, that it aims to accelerate portfolio transformation, including investments in overseas energy solutions.
Sumitomo plans to continue developing renewable energy projects in line with local energy policies and market conditions, with the aim of supporting sustainable growth and contributing to clean energy efforts in the UK and other regions.
Sumitomo Overseas Energy Solutions SBU general manager Jun Minase 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 wider strategy to reallocate resources.
