The Crown Estate UK Case Study

Explore our Crown Estate UK case study to see how MCC supported the Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 process by developing a fully automated bidding tool. Our tailored solution enabled real-time bidder selection, contingency planning, and seamless auction execution, ensuring a smooth and transparent process in support of the UK’s renewable energy transition.

What the Client Needed?

The Crown Estate (TCE) required expert technical and analytical support for Stage 2 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) as part of Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4. Given the complexity of multi-cycle bidding and the scale of investment in offshore wind projects, TCE needed an automated bidding tool, contingency planning mechanisms, and clear operational documentation and guidance.

How we Helped them?

Automated Excel tool

MCC played a critical role in streamlining the Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 ITT Stage 2 process by delivering:

  1. Custom-Built Automated Bidding Tool
    • Developed a dynamic, real-time tool for identifying Preferred Bidders and Preferred Projects during multi-cycle bidding.
    • Designed the tool to handle live auctions, bid assessments, and selection processes seamlessly, ensuring fair and transparent decision-making.
  2. Contingency Planning for Non-Standard Events
    • Mapped out potential bidding anomalies and process disruptions to ensure TCE could handle unexpected scenarios.
    • Created automated safeguards and fallback procedures within the tool to manage deviations from standard bidding cycles.
  3. Operational Guidance and User Documentation
    • Produced a comprehensive tool guide to assist TCE’s bidding team in using the system effectively.
    • Provided training materials to ensure seamless adoption and execution during the live leasing process.
  4. Strategic Advisory for Offshore Wind Development
    • Positioned MCC as a key advisor to regulators and offshore wind developers, ensuring that the Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 process aligned with the UK’s Net Zero 2050 goals.
    • Provided insights on the long-term impact of leasing decisions on renewable energy infrastructure and investment strategy.

I was delighted that MCC's work was completed on time, and within budget, helping us deliver important changes and improvements, to the benefit of our stakeholders. ​ MCC's report is published on the CCC website.

- Bea Natzler
Team Leader at Climate Change Committee, UK

I am delighted to recommend MCC Economics. Specifically, I worked closely with PJ, who helped us with our Nuclear and CCUS projects. PJ helped us develop new policies and answer questions from our stakeholders. ​​His support helped us deliver important changes and improvements, to the benefit of our stakeholders.

- Gordon Hutcheson
Head of Nuclear Policy at Ofgem, UK

MCC Economics has helped us better understand the most important issues for our stakeholders, including: charges, shareholder returns, debt payments and inflation impacts.

- Leila N. Nasr
Section Head at Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi