The 1 GW London Array offshore windfarm could be the world’s largest offshore windfarm once completed.
The three partners are satisfied that the project is now financially viable after the recent UK Government proposal to increase its support for offshore wind power, and the partners say they are keen to push ahead with construction and to produce the first wind power in 2012.
E.ON Chief Executive Officer Dr Wulf Bernotat says: “I'm delighted that work can now get underway on the world's largest offshore windfarm. … With this pioneering scheme, we see a significant increase in scale for offshore wind and also for E.ON as we aim to become the world's largest offshore wind farm developer.”
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown comments: “The London Array is a flagship project in our drive to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 and meet future energy needs.”
Onshore work is due to start this summer, with offshore work due to start in early 2011.
The London Array offshore windfarm will be built around 12 miles off the coasts of Kent and Essex. The windfarm will be installed on a 90 square mile site and will be built in two phases. The consortium hopes the first phase of 630 MW and 175 wind turbines will be completed and generating power in 2012.
The consortium partners have the following shareholdings in London Array: