Plans for the world’s largest offshore wind farm have been approved by the British government, paving the way for 300 turbines to be erected off the coast of Yorkshire.
The wind farm would cover an area of 480 square kilometres in the North Sea, if it is built.
It could one day deliver 1,800 megawatts of clean electricity to around 1.8 million homes.
The Hornsea Project Two would boost the UK’s wind energy industry and create more than 2,500 jobs if Dong Energy goes ahead with its plans.
It has yet to commit to the project, and there is no timeline for when the final investment decision will be made, although the Danish energy company told Wired the project would form part of our post 2020 pipeline.
“The UK’s offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system,” said Greg Clark, the business and energy secretary.
“Britain is a global leader in offshore wind, and we are determined to be one of the leading destinations for investment in renewable energy, which means jobs and economic growth right across the country.”
Clark approved the Development Consent Order (DCO), which covers the whole project including the turbines, foundations, offshore and onshore substations and cables.
Approval for the green energy project follows uncertainty on whether the Hinkley Point C project will become a reality.
Teresa May delayed giving the go ahead to the £18 billion nuclear power plant last month, meaning different infrastructure projects may be needed to meet the UK’s future energy demands.
The huge wind farm would be located 89 kilometres off the Yorkshire coast, connecting to the national grid at North Killingholme in North Lincolnshire.
Ministers said it would create up to 1,960 construction jobs and 580 operational and maintenance jobs, providing an opportunity for economic growth in the Humber region and beyond.
Brent Cheshire, DONG Energy's UK Country Chairman said Hornsea Project Two is an ‘exciting development opportunity’ in offshore wind.
“A project of this size will help in our efforts to continue reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind and shows our commitment to investing in the UK,” he added.
It’s estimated 10 per cent of the UK’s electricity demand will be met by offshore wind by 2020.
Huub den Rooijen, Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure at The Crown Estate, said: “Major developments of Hornsea Project Two's scale will pave the way for its continued growth alongside driving down costs, creating high value jobs, and supporting the UK's transition to a low carbon energy supply."
While the wind farm may be good news for securing the UK’s future energy, it could be ‘devastating’ for birds, the RSPB said.
The charity argued the Hornsea Project Two will lead to the unnecessary death of hundreds of seabirds that nest on the Yorkshire coast.
Data from satellite-tracked birds, collected by the RSPB, shows the proposed site of Hornsea Project Two would be directly in the flight path of two threatened species of seabirds - gannets and kittiwakes.
Consequently, the wind farm, in combination with other offshore wind farms in the North Sea, poses an unacceptable level of threat to these species as well as potential effects for guillemots, razorbills and puffins, it said.
Gwyn Williams, Head of Reserves and Protected Areas, said: “Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds flock to the cliffs between Flamborough Head and Filey Cliffs in a mesmerising seabird spectacle.
"The importance of this site, not just to Yorkshire but to the UK, has been recognised and the site is designated as a Special Protection Area by the Government.
"Many of the birds that nest there fly out to feed where these wind turbines are being proposed, just over 60 miles away. Combined with the impacts of other offshore wind farms we are deeply concerned about the future of these seabirds."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
