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Approval for 'biggest' wind farm Offshore wind farms get go-ahead
(about 3 hours later)
Plans for two major offshore wind farms in the Thames Estuary have been given the green light by the government. The green light has been given for two offshore wind farms in the Thames Estuary, one of which will be the world's biggest when it is completed.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said one of the schemes, called London Array, would be the world's biggest on completion in about 2011. The government said the schemes would produce enough renewable electricity to power about one million households.
The wind farm will have 341 turbines over 144 sq miles (232 sq km) between Margate in Kent and Clacton, Essex. The larger London Array project covers 144 sq miles (232 sq km) between Margate in Kent and Clacton, Essex.
The other project will be seven miles (11km) off North Foreland, Kent, across an area of 21 sq miles (35 sq km). The second wind farm, called the Thanet scheme, will cover a 21 sq-mile area (35 sq km) off the north Kent coast.
The consortium behind the larger scheme is appealing against a Kent council's refusal for an onshore substation. The £1.5bn London Array scheme will have 341 turbines rising from the sea about 12 miles (20km) off the Kent and Essex coasts, as well as five offshore substations and four meteorological masts.
Swale Borough Council refused planning consent in June, citing environmental impact as the reason. The consortium behind it is made up of Shell WindEnergy Ltd, E.ON UK Renewables and Core Ltd.
London Array Limited said it had changed its plans following concerns over the impact of the substation at Graveney. Climate change
It also said it had addressed residents' concerns over construction traffic. The smaller £450m Thanet project will be located seven miles (11km) out from North Foreland, Kent, and will have 100 turbines.
Economic opportunities HAVE YOUR SAY We should be building more windfarms. We need to reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels Ernst Schrodinger, Hampshire href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5051&edition=2&ttl=20061218092702" class="">Send us your comments Developed by Warwick Energy, it could be supplying electricity to about 240,000 homes by 2008.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the £1.5bn London Array project could generate enough renewable electricity to power 750,000 households when fully operational. The government said both schemes would make "a significant contribution to the aim of a five-fold increase in the UK's renewable energy resource by 2020".
It will be situated 12 miles (20km) off the Kent and Essex coasts and contain five offshore substations and four meteorological masts. Friends of the Earth said about 1% of electricity used in the UK would come from the London Array turbines.
The first turbines could be erected by 2008. Spokesman Martin Williams said: "It really is a big wind farm, but when you look at the scale of the challenge of climate change, we're going to need to do an awful lot more than just this one offshore wind farm."
The smaller project, called the Thanet scheme, would cost £450m and contain 100 turbines. New jobs
The developer, Warwick Energy, expects the project to provide enough renewable electricity for 240,000 homes. London Array Ltd also wants to build an onshore electricity substation at Cleve Hill, Graveney, but planning permission was refused by Swale Borough Council.
The DTI added both projects would make a "significant contribution to the government's aim of a five-fold increase in the UK's renewable energy resource by 2020". The consortium is appealing, saying it has changed its plans following residents' concerns over construction traffic, and a planning inspector is due to make a ruling in early March.
It also said the schemes would bring economic opportunities to businesses and local communities. The Thanet scheme will provide major economic benefits for the town of Ramsgate.
Thanet District Council said 800 new jobs were expected during the three-year construction period, with another 100 when Ramsgate becomes the maintenance base for the wind farm.