UK government approves world’s largest offshore windfarm

The world’s largest offshore windfarm is set to be built on the UK coastline at a cost of £2.2 billion, and will start producing energy by 2012.

Consisting of 175 turbines spanning 90 square miles, the world’s first oneGW offshore windfarm will produce enough energy to power a quarter of the homes in Greater London.

The windfarm, named the London Array, will be built 12 miles off the coast of Essex and Kent in the outer estuary of the River Thames.

Energy firms DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar will work together to build the first 630MW phase of the development.

E.ON Chief Executive Officer Dr Wulf Bernotat says: “I’m delighted that work can now get underway on the world’s largest offshore windfarm.”

The project was declared financially viable after the government increased its support for offshore wind power as part of its target to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “The London Array is a flagship project in our drive to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 and meet future energy needs.

“That’s why we have increased our support for this technology as we move towards a low carbon future.”

Ed Miliband, secretary for the department of energy and climate change (DECC), added: “This is another green light for green energy.

“It’s a vote of confidence in the support the Government has put into backing renewable energy.”

Environmental campaigners expressed their delight that the windfarm is finally getting the go ahead, but said the government needs to do more to make the most of Britain’s potential for producing renewable energy.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: “Cutting-edge projects like the London Array will help generate clean, secure energy.

“The UK has the best renewable energy resources in Europe, and the know-how to harvest it.

“The London Array should be the start of a major expansion of offshore wind to help power Britain.

“The government now needs to remove the hurdles that have stopped the faster development of the wind industry.”

Providing enough energy for 750,000 homes, the London Array will save an annual 1.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions.