Wind farm gets green light

Alistair Darling, secretary of state for trade and industry, has given the go-ahead for a wind farm project in the Thames Estuary.

The Greater Gabbard scheme, being developed by Airtricity and Fluor, will occupy an area of 150 square kilometres close to two shallow sandbanks off the Suffolk coast.

Ian Pearson, climate change minister, said that the project was part of a greater emphasis on renewable energy. “Projects like this that expand our capacity to generate clean electricity will play a major role in helping to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050,” he said.

Patrick Flaherty, managing director at Flour, said: "We are pleased to have achieved this important milestone and we look forward to working with all involved stakeholders to progress the project to financial close during 2007, so that we can begin the construction works in time to support the government's 2010 renewables target.”

Due for completion by 2010, the Greater Gabbard wins farm will have the capacity to supply 500MW through 140 turbines - sufficient power for 415,000 homes.