1.8 GW offshore wind project given go-ahead in UK

UK's Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy has awarded development consent for Vattenfall's application to build 1.8 GW Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm.

Commenting on the decision, Gunnar Groebler, Senior Vice President for Vattenfall’s wind business, said: “We’re delighted to receive planning consent for Norfolk Vanguard. This decision justifies the confidence that we have in the offshore wind sector in Britain, and we’re looking forward to developing the project and benefiting the local community. Vattenfall’s purpose is to power climate smarter living. Decarbonizing our economies starts with one of the most essential resources – electricity. Today’s news sends a strong signal that the UK is serious about its climate ambitions and is open for business to power a green economic recovery.”

The Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm will be located more than 47 km from the coast of Happisburgh, Norfolk, in the east of England. It will generate 1.8 gigawatts of clean electricity when built, enough to power almost two million homes each year while saving over three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – the same as taking approximately 1.6 million cars off the road.

Danielle Lane, Country Manager and Head of Offshore Wind for Vattenfall in the UK, said: “It’s vital that other shovel-ready renewable and low-carbon projects are also given the go-ahead as soon as possible. Delays of even just a month or so can set back big infrastructure developments by years in some cases. The UK has to go much further, much faster, if it’s going to reach its net-zero targets.”

Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm's first power is expected in mid-2020.