1.2-GW East Anglia Three offshore wind farm in UK given green light

Iberdrola subsidiary​ ScottishPower Renewables has received planning approval from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), for the East Anglia III offshore windfarm in UK with an output capacity of up to 1,200 MW.  

The planning consent will allow for the installation of larger and more efficient ‘next generation’ turbines, up to a tip height of 247 metres.  The project comprise 172 wind turbines, and covers an area of 305 km2,  69 kilometres off the coast of Norfolk, UK. The windfarm could produce enough electricity to power the annual demands of nearly one million homes.

ScottishPower Renewables believes that next generation technology will help to ensure that offshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of low carbon electricity.

The company’s East Anglia ONE scheme is the best value project to go in to construction in the UK (US$154 MW/h), and costs are expected to reduce even further in future auctions. ScottishPower Renewables is currently delivering the East Anglia ONE project, which has a capacity of 714 MW and is due to be fully operational in 2020. 

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, said: 

“Offshore wind has delivered on its promises from the outset. Our sector has met every technical and political challenge, grown the UK’s supply chain, and improved the technology at a rapid pace to allow projects to be deployed in ever harsher conditions. At the same time, the level of cost reductions achieved would more commonly be seen in consumer electronics.

“In a little over a decade, our sector has delivered substantial amounts of green electricity for the UK, supported billions of pounds of UK investment and created thousands of high quality jobs.

"With the support of a highly-skilled supply chain, East Anglia THREE will further enhance the UK’s leading position in offshore wind. No other sector ticks all of the boxes in its ability to support the Government’s plans for rebalancing the economy and promoting economic diversity through the Industrial Strategy. 

“Major contracts are already being delivered in towns and cities spread out all across the UK.  Offshore wind has supported jobs and investment in Hull, Hartlepool, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Grimsby, Teesside, Tyneside, Fife, Machrihanish and Belfast to name but a few. Large-scale projects like East Anglia THREE will continue to help to encourage economic regeneration where it is needed most.”

Will Apps, Head of Energy Development at The Crown Estate, said: 

“It is great to see the East Anglia THREE project pass this significant milestone. Through the continued efforts of ScottishPower Renewables, and their industry peers, the UK now benefits from a strong development pipeline of more than 11GW of consented capacity. This is in addition to the projects that are already built or are on track to supply 10% of the UK’s electricity demand by 2020. The offshore wind industry continues to deliver as a large-scale, affordable and reliable choice for UK power generation."

We have lately informed about other offshore wind projects in UK:

• 336 MW Galloper offshore wind farm project
• 2.4 GW Hornsea offshore wind project THREE
• 573 MW Race Bank Wind Farm off North Norfolk
• 714 MW East Anglia ONE wind farm off the Suffolk Coast
• 30 MW Hywind pilot floating wind park offshore Peterhead
• 448 MW Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind project
• Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm transmission link in Norfolk