Development consent has been granted for a major UK offshore wind farm offering an approximate capacity of up to 2,400MW and a boost for the UK’s net zero ambition.
The application for Ørsted’s Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm off the coast of Norfolk was submitted for consideration on 14 May 2018 and accepted for examination on 8 June 2018. It was granted consent by the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 31 December 2020.
RenewableUK’s chief executive, Hugh McNeal, said the decision “on Hornsea Project Three means the UK is taking a significant step closer towards our net zero emissions target. Investing in large scale offshore wind power is good for our environment and our economy, boosting productivity and creating thousands of high-quality jobs”.
He added: “Green growth will be vital to support our long-term economic recovery in the years ahead. This major project will also help us to maintain our global lead in offshore wind, as well as building up our UK supply chain.”
Up to 231 offshore wind turbines will be located within a 696 km2 area. The wind farm will be capable of generating at least 2,400 MW of green electricity, enough to meet the average daily needs of well over 2 million homes.
The wind farm site is within the area known as Zone 4, under the Round 3 offshore wind licensing arrangements established by The Crown Estate.
To date, Hornsea One and Hornsea Two have both received planning consent, with Hornsea One now operational and Hornsea Two currently under construction.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
