News

The decision to start building the first 630MW phase of the London Array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary has been announced today (12 May).
 

Once complete, the consortium of DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar scheme will be the the world's largest, and the first 1GW, offshore wind farm. The project will supply enough power for around 750,000 homes or a quarter of Greater London homes.

Today's announcement comes after the UK Government's recent proposal to increase its support for offshore wind power. The partners are satisfied that the project is now financially viable and are now keen to push ahead with construction and to produce the first renewable power in 2012.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: 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.

The UK is already the world's leading offshore wind power and this multi-billion pound project will help keep us there, cut our carbon emissions and contribute to secure energy supplies.

Onshore work is now due to start in the summer, with offshore work due to start in early 2011.

The scheme will be built around 12 miles off the coasts of Kent and Essex. The wind farm will be installed on a 90 square mile site and will be built in two phases.

The consortium hopes the first phase of 630MW will be completed and generating in 2012. The first phase will consist of 175 turbines. The second phase will add enough capacity to bring the total to 1,000MW.