News and Events
Government clears the way for offshore wind farms in the south west
The government's announcement that it plans to go ahead with a huge expansion in offshore wind energy, following an assessment of its environmental impacts, is great news for the south west, according to Regen SW, the south west sustainable energy agency.
The announcement comes in a new Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) policy statement "A Prevailing Wind: Advancing UK Offshore Wind Deployment" that states the government will take forward a programme to develop 25 gigawatts of new offshore wind following its "Strategic Environmental Assessment".
Importantly, there is no blanket requirement on how far out to sea the turbines must be. This is vital in the south west, as deep waters mean that offshore wind turbines will need to be placed closer to the coast. It also means that plans for the Atlantic Array - a 1,500 megawatt offshore wind farm that is proposed off the North Devon coast - and another 1,000 megawatt site proposed off the south coast in Poole Bay can now move forwards.
Merlin Hyman, Regen SW chief executive, said: "Offshore wind is clean, renewable energy that has the potential to provide around 34 per cent of the region's electricity needs by 2020 so today's announcement is excellent news."
"Regen SW has pressed hard for the decision on whether to develop offshore wind to be based on the unique character of the area rather than a blanket approach. The fact that the government has responded by dropping the proposal for offshore wind turbines to be at least 12 nautical miles from the coast is vital for the south west."
Merlin added: "With the right approach - which is sympathetic to the marine environment, looks after the natural habitat of marine life, and takes on board all considerations of the environmental impact assessments - these projects have huge potential. We'll see increased jobs and a boost for the economy. Manpower and expertise will be required in the construction industries; office and administration personnel will be necessary; foundations will need to be built on the seabed; marine-based inspections will need to take place; and there will be a continual need for operations and maintenance teams to keep the wind farms in top working order. It is an enormous opportunity."
The strategic environmental assessment was released by DECC yesterday. To read their press release and download the report, visit: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn065/pn065.aspx
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