The proposed
Rampion 2 offshore wind farm, off the Sussex coast, capable of producing enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of one million homes (1.2GWh) — was last week approved by energy security secretary Ed Miliband.
The Rampion 2 developer estimates that this project alone will create 4,000 jobs in the construction of the 90 offshore turbines. Approval moves the Government a step closer to delivering clean power by 2030, putting the UK within 4GWh of the offshore wind range of 43-50GWh set out in the Clean Power Action Plan and is the 15th Development Consent Order approved since July.
The ‘green light’ follows measures in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will see dozens of clean energy projects, including wind and solar power, jump to the front of the queue for grid connections. The Bill will also pave the way for windfarms and other low-carbon infrastructure to be approved and built faster.
Roll out clean powerMr Miliband said: “The UK has a boundless supply of wind that cannot be turned on and off at the whims of dictators and petrostates. It is time to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster, roll out clean power, protect our energy security and bring down bills for good. This project puts us within reach of our clean power offshore wind target. Through our Plan for Change we are getting on with delivering the clean energy and jobs Britain needs.”
In the last renewables auction round the Government secured almost 5GWh of new offshore wind capacity, including the largest offshore windfarm project in Europe — the Hornsea 3 project off the Yorkshire coast.