The ever continuing debate as to whether wind farms are a sustainable source of renewable energy for the future received further Government backing recently when on August 8th 2008 the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) gave approval for two major new wind farms.
Proposals for a 315MW offshore wind farm, Sherringham Shoal, put forward by Norwegian utility company StatoilHydro and Dutch energy company Evelop were given consent and will become the fourth largest offshore wind farm approved in the UK. Situated 12 miles off the Norfolk coast utilising the strong North Sea winds, the wind farm will have 88 turbines when fully operational and will power some 220,000 homes. It is anticipated to be operational by 2011.
The interest by developers in onshore wind also remains high and the BERR has approved the 75MW, 18 turbine Middlemoor wind farm proposals near Alnwick, Northumberland. Following detailed environmental assessments spanning 5 years, the site, being developed by Npower Renewables, will power over 27,000 homes. Their proposals also include establishing a community benefits package for the local community, education, energy efficiency, and environmental projects.
Although both applications had initially been subject to a Ministry of Defence objection over concerns of interference with defence radar, they are the first major applications to see a MoD objection withdrawn following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the wind industry and Defence officials in May this year.
The approval of these two projects mark a significant step forward in Government’s aim to deliver the 2020 renewable energy targets. Overcoming an array of technical issues in achieving planning permission, they are a sign that the Government has strong belief in wind as a contributor to green sustainable energy.
For further information on wind farms, please contact 01858 411 246. Author Darren Edwards.
