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The environmental organization is preparing to take legal action against the property management firm of King Charles, claiming it is exploiting its exclusive control over the ocean floor.

Greenpeace asserts that the royal estate has driven up costs for wind energy developers while enhancing its own profits and the monarchy's revenue through high-pressure auctions for offshore leasing rights.

Being the official proprietor of the seafloor surrounding the UK's coastal waters, the Crown Estate oversees the auctioning of offshore wind rights. It has benefited greatly from the sector's growth, collecting substantial option fees from renewable energy companies aiming to secure zones for wind power construction.

The Crown Estate recorded a profit of over a billion pounds for the fiscal period ending in March, doubling the figure from just two years earlier.

Greenpeace UK's co-executive director remarked, "Our marine territory should be managed in the interest of the public and common good, not treated as an property to be exploited for financial gain and excessive incentives."

He continued, "We must explore every option in seeking answers to reduce power costs that are causing hardship for many of households."

"Given the importance of low-cost energy and clean power to the national plans, the chancellor should exercise her powers to call for an external examination of these auction processes. If the problem isn't resolved before the next round, we may have to let the courts decide on whether the existing methods are lawful."

Greenpeace contends that the estate has a statutory duty to avoid abusing its monopoly status as seabed owner, but is currently violating this responsibility.

The group expressed concern that the Crown Estate is restricting seabed supply to keep costs elevated, which could impede the growth of offshore wind power in the UK.

The estate has allegedly dismissed the group's allegations, stating that the lobby group has misunderstood its legal duties.

Roughly twelve percent of the Crown Estate's earnings are directed to the royal family to support its activities. This percentage was lowered from twenty-five percent in 2023 to balance the surge in profits from marine energy projects.

The UK's wind power sector is at a critical point as the administration plans to double land-based wind power and increase fourfold sea-based wind capacity by the end of the decade.

The estate, which also includes a collection of London properties and countryside holdings, is worth at £15 billion. Its London assets, located in Regent Street and St James's, are estimated at £7.1 billion.

A representative for the Crown Estate commented, "Greenpeace has misinterpreted our obligations and auction procedures. Reservation payments are not set by the estate. They are determined by developers through transparent bidding and reflect industry interest at the time. Since our income is paid to the Treasury, these payments ensure that taxpayers benefit from the fair value from developing our limited and valuable marine territory."

The representative continued, "The Crown Estate is accelerating marine renewable energy in accordance to government policy to move forward the shift to clean power quickly and enhance national power stability."

The Treasury was approached for comment.