Government gives green light to three wind farms

The government has given the green light for three new wind farms, it announced today.

The three schemes comprise:

• A 39-turbine onshore wind farm planned at Keadby, North Lincolnshire. The 85MW plant, developed by Renewable Energy Systems, should provide enough energy for 38,000 homes.
• A 22-turbine, 66MW development by E.ON UK Renewables, providing enough energy for 26,500 homes.
• A 64MW offshore farm in the Thames Estuary (Gunfleet Sands II) which will lie five miles off the Essex coast at Frinton-on-Sea. It will also comprise 22 turbines.

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said: “These three new wind farms will add a further 215MWof green energy to the renewables revolution that is sweeping through the UK.

“Real momentum for renewables in the UK is building. Through our renewables obligation we have more than doubled the amount of renewable electricity, and this will triple again to 15% by 2015 through changes in the Energy Bill. We are on course to overtake Denmark next year as their world leader in offshore wind and we are reviewing our strategy to take us even further,” he added.