DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/166)
issued by The Government News Network on 8 August 2008
The
Government's plans for a low carbon future took another step
closer today as Energy Secretary John Hutton announced the
approval of the UK's fourth largest offshore wind farm.
The 315MW offshore wind farm (Sheringham Shoal) is planned off
the coast of Norfolk. The development by Scira Offshore Energy Ltd
will comprise of up to 108 turbines, enough to power the
equivalent of around 178,000i homes with clean, green electricity.
John Hutton said:
"This new wind farm demonstrates our commitment to
dramatically increase the amount of energy we generate from
renewable sources, helping to cut the UK's carbon emissions
and secure our energy supplies.
"Sheringham Shoal will be the UK's fourth largest
offshore wind farm approved to date and will help provide a
significant contribution towards our renewable energy targets.
"Companies want to build here because we have made the UK
one of the most attractive places to invest in wind power. By the
end of 2009 a further 626MW of offshore wind power will be plugged
in to the grid, making us world leaders.
"Through the Planning Bill, we are also looking to speed up
the planning process for developers and to improve consultations
to make sure wind farms are built in the right places."
The Secretary of State has also granted consent to a 75MW onshore
wind farm planned at Middlemoor near Alnwick in Northumberland.
The development by Npower Renewables Ltd will comprise of 18
turbines, enough to power approximately 27,600ii homes - the
equivalent of every home in both Alnwick and Berwick.
Both approvals for Middlemoor and Sheringham Shoal wind farms are
conditional. Technical solutions to mitigate the effects to the
Air Defence Radar at RAF Brizlee Wood and Trimmingham respectively
must be found within the five year period of the consent. The
Secretary of State at the Department for Business, following the
fullest possible consultation with the Secretary of State for
Defence, must be satisfied the impacts on these air defence radar
are acceptable for the projects to proceed.
Today's announcement adds to the momentum already building
in wind energy:
* Wind has overtaken hydro power as the second largest renewable
energy generation source in the UK in output terms, with a 30%
growth (90MW) in offshore generating capacity between 2006 and
2007 alone
* Construction has started on the onshore infrastructure of the
504MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm
* E.ON and DONG are taking forward plans to build the 1000MW
London Array - the world's largest offshore wind farm.
Notes to editors:
1. Consent has been granted to Scira Offshore Energy Ltd (a joint
venture between StatoilHydro and Evelop Projects, an operating
company of sustainable energy company Econcern) under section 36
of the Electricity Act 1989 for the construction and operation of
a 315MW offshore wind farm off the Norfolk coast.
2. The Marine and Fisheries Agency has also granted a licence to
Scira Offshore Energy Ltd under the Food and Environmental
Protection Act 1985 and the Coast Protection Act 1949 for the
Sheringham Shoal project.
3. Sheringham Shoal is the first Round 2 wind farm to be
consented in the Greater Wash Strategic Area. It is the fourth
largest offshore wind farm approved (after London Array and
Greater Gabbard in the Thames Estuary, and Walney in the North West).
Scira PR & Communications Manager, Sue Vincent. M: 07768
508742 Email: info@scira.co.uk
4. Consent has been granted to npower renewables Ltd under
section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the construction and
operation of a 75MW onshore wind farm at Middlemoor, North
Charlton, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Annemarie Taylor, Senior PR Officer, Npower Renewables Ltd
T:
01793 892053
M: 07825 995656
Email:
annemarie.taylor@rwe.com
Claire Smith, PR Officer, npower
renewables
T: 01793 894330
M: 07500 226798
Email: claire.smith@rwe.com
5. The Government's Renewable Energy Strategy consultation
was launched on 26th June 2008. It is seeking views on how to
drive up the use of renewable energy in the UK, as part of our
overall strategy for tackling climate change and to meet our share
of the EU target to source 20% of the EU's energy from
renewable sources by 2020. Responses to the consultation will help
shape the UK Renewable Energy Strategy which will be published in
spring 2009, once the UK's share of the target has been agreed.
6. Five offshore wind farms are currently under construction in
UK waters: Eon's Robin Rigg A and B (180MW), npower's
Rhyl Flats (90MW), Centrica's Lynn and Inner Dowsing (184MW).
Construction on onshore works has also commenced on three further
offshore wind farms, DONG's Gunfleet Sands I and II (172MW)
due to commission in 2009 and SSE's 504MW Greater Gabbard due
to commission in 2011.
7. In 2007 total electricity generation from renewables increased
by 1,548GWh (8.5%) to 19,664 GWh. Generation from wind (both
onshore and offshore) overtook hydro to become the largest
renewables technology in output terms, with both closely followed
by landfill gas.
8. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies.
i Figure provided by developer
ii Figure provided by developer