Engineering news
A new offshore wind farm which, under peak conditions, could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 150,000 homes has been given the go-ahead by the government.
Energy company E.ON has been granted permission to build the 77-turbine, 230MW Humber Gateway wind farm, which will be sited around five miles off the Holderness coast in Yorkshire.
Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary, said: “Offshore wind not only provides clean, green, secure energy, the investment that comes with it is great for the UK economy too.
“A new wind farm off the Humberside coast will be a further jobs and investment boost for the region, hot on the heels of Siemens’ announcement of plans to develop the Port of Hull.”
Michael Lewis, managing director for E.ON’s European renewables business, said: “It’s essential that we continue to invest in renewable technologies and this is further recognition of our expertise in the sector generally and in offshore wind in particular.”
E.ON was granted onshore planning consent for a new substation on industrial land near Salt End in the East Riding of Yorkshire earlier this year. The substation will connect the Humber Gateway wind farm to the national grid via 30km of underground cable.
Once operational, Humber Gateway will be E.ON’s fifth offshore wind farm in the UK. The company already owns and operates the UK’s first offshore wind farm off the cost of Blyth in Northumberland, Scroby Sands off the coast of Great Yarmouth, and Robin Rigg in the Solway Firth.
E.ON is also a partner in the London Array, which will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when built.
The Humber Gateway wind farm is the first off shore scheme to be given consent since December 2008.