UK - Offshore renewables powerhouse a significant step closer

BWEA has warmly welcomed today’s consent for two new offshore wind farms by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling and Secretary of State for the Environment David Miliband. The two projects, London Array and Thanet, are the first consents to be awarded in the UK’s second phase of development offshore.

Together they represent potentially 1,300 megawatts of clean electricity – equivalent to over 1% of UK electricity supplies – and largest amount of wind power ever to be awarded consent in one day.

BWEA Chief Executive Maria McCaffery MBE said: “BWEA is delighted by the first consents for the second phase of the UK’s world-leading offshore programme. The significance of these decisions is far greater than the projects themselves, although they will bring many notable benefits to the UK in terms of clean carbon free generation. Far more important is the clear signal from the UK to the rest of the world that this country is open for business for offshore wind and we look forward to more consents in the near future.”

The UK is at the forefront of the offshore wind industry, with potentially 8,700 megawatts of projects at various stages of development, and is set to overtake Denmark as the leader in installed offshore wind generating capacity in 2008.