3 offshore wind farms get the go ahead off the coast of Yorkshire, supporting up to 2,500 jobs

10 Dec 2014 03:41 PM

An offshore wind project that is expected to bring up to 2,500 local jobs and millions of pounds’ worth of investment to the UK’s economy has yesterday been given consent from the Government to go ahead.

Hornsea Project One will be made up of three offshore wind farms with a maximum capacity of 1200MW. Once built, it will generate enough electricity to power more than 800,000 homes.

The decision underlines how the Government’s policies have made the UK the best place in the world to invest in offshore wind. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said:

“With around 2,500 local green jobs on the horizon, this is another great boost for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

“Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is crucial to creating job and business opportunities in the UK, getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports. Wind power is vital to this plan, with £14.5 billion invested since 2010 into an industry which supports 35,400 jobs.”

Based 64 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, the project was one of eight renewable energy projects awarded an early Contract for Difference (CFD) in April 2014. These investment contracts are a major part of the Government’s world leading Electricity Market Reform programme - reforms which will see competition and markets attract tens of billions of pounds of vital energy investment whilst reducing the costs of clean energy to consumers.

Consent was provided on the condition that the project has an employment and skills plan approved by North Lincolnshire Council, which includes local advertising of jobs and supply chain opportunities and outreach employment presentations.

It has been shown that almost half of the costs associated with building and operating a wind farm is spent buying services and products from UK businesses. This translates into real jobs, particularly in areas like Yorkshire which is becoming an energy hub. Earlier this year Siemens and ABP announced a combined investment of £310 million to develop new wind turbine production and installation facilities in Hull, creating over 1,000 new jobs. This is one of the largest investments in the Humberside area in the last 50 years and clearly demonstrates that the UK is the leading market for the sector.

Notes to Editors

• Project One is being taken forward by SMart Wind a 50:50 joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, and DONG Energy.

• In November 2014, it was announced that Fugro GeoConsulting, who are based in Oxfordshire and Great Yarmouth, have been awarded a £13 million contract to carry out geotechnical surveys for Project One. This is one of the largest geotechnical contracts yet awarded in UK offshore wind.

• Project One is part of the wider Hornsea Offshore Wind Farm zone, one of The Crown Estate’s Round 3 offshore wind programme. The Hornsea Offshore Wind Farm zone has a maximum capacity of 4GW [4000MW]

• Project One covers a 407km area located 64 miles off the Yorkshire coast.

• Depending on the size of the turbines selected it is the estimated that Project One will require between 150 and 332 offshore wind turbines.

• Eight Investment Contracts were awarded under the Government’s Final Investment Decision Enabling for Renewables programme, which was designed to enable developers of low carbon electricity projects to take final investment decisions ahead of the Contract for Difference regime being put in place as part of Electricity Market Reform.