Offshore Wind Leases Market Valuation - Special Valuation Exercise

Description

Crown Estate Scotland is currently in discussions with Offshore Wind tenants expecting to ‘step through’ from Option Agreements/Agreement to Lease (i.e., to enter the Lease). Where this ‘step through’ occurs more than 10 years after the initial option was granted, there is a need to ensure the rent mechanism contained in the Lease reflects ‘market value’. When the rent mechanism is fee based (i.e., rent = fee (GBP/MWh) x output (MWh)), there is a need to revalue the original fee to ensure the new fee level represents market value (‘Market Value Fee’), at the point when the option call occurs. These special valuation services support the setting of rental terms in a forward-looking manner and to allow CES to comply with its legislative obligations around achieving value This process presents practical challenges for both CES and tenants seeking to progress the projects as there is a requirement to understand the Market Value Fee in advance of the point of the Option call. An early understanding of the Market Value Fee is helpful to both parties in progressing the project and the Option call preparations. This PIN is seeking to understand views on valuation of a Market Value Fee rental fee in advance of procuring valuation services. CES intends to seek services as follows: - RICS Red Book Valuation of Market Value Fee and accompanying report; - A forward-view approach (model or methodology) that can provide an estimate of Market Value Fee at the point in time in the future when the Option is called for development agreements. This could be up to 12 months following the initial valuation. We expect the forward-view approach to incorporate inflationary forecasts however there may be other considerations to be incorporated; and - Final review/confirmation of the valuation immediately prior to the point at which the Option is triggered. Crown Estate Scotland is considering the above approach in order to provide the necessary visibility to projects seeking to secure finance and ultimately achieve financial close, whilst still complying with a statutory duty to value the rental fee at the point the Option is called.