Offshore wind developer Vattenfall has given the go-ahead to £150million investment in a further 15 offshore wind turbines off the Kent coast.
The Swedish Government-owned company, which is behind the controversial European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) windfarm project being built in Aberdeen Bay, already owns and operates the 30 turbine 90MW Kentish Flats offshore windfarm.
Planning consent for the 15 turbine 49.5MW extension was granted earlier this year and Vattenfall anticipates the scheme will be fully operational by 2015.
Once up and running, both Kent schemes are expected to generate enough electricity to power 42,000 homes every year.
The project was a testament of the power of inward investment in the UK, and the country was well placed to maintain its position as the world’s biggest offshore wind market by 2020, said energy secretary Ed Davey.
“Offshore wind is a major success story for the UK which brings economic benefit to our shores, supports thousands of skilled jobs and is an important contributor to our energy mix,” he said.
Vattenfall’s UK country manager Peter Wesslau said the company was committed to developing wind power in the UK.
“Since May this year we have promised to invest, in total, more than £600 million in two onshore wind power schemes and now offshore with Kentish Flats Extension,” said Mr Wesslau.
“The UK is currently one of the most attractive places in Europe to invest in wind power and we are keen to continue building our business here.”
Project manager Matthew Green said the company would now be carrying out detailed engineering and planning for the construction phase in 2015.
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