World’s largest offshore wind farm gets government backing

Ørsted’s ​Hornsea 3 is one of nine offshore wind farms to receive government backing in its bid to make the UK a “clean energy superpower”. 

The wind farm will have up to 231 offshore turbines and generate 2.9 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy, enough to power more than 3.3m homes.

Ørsted’s ​Hornsea 3 wind farm (Image: Ørsted)

Contracts have also been awarded to two other wind farms off the Suffolk coast, ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia Two and East Anglia Three. Together, these will deliver enough energy to power more than 1m homes. 

In total, 131 contracts have been awarded across the UK, including onshore wind, solar and tidal energy projects. 

This will generate 9.6GWs of renewable energy to power 11m UK homes.

Ørsted’s Hornsea 1 wind farm, located in the North Sea, can power more than 1m UK homes (Image: Ørsted)

Duncan Clark, Ørsted’s senior vice president and head of UK and Ireland, said: “The important takeaway from this allocation round is that progress is being made, and it’s crucial that this momentum continues to grow.

“The government has shown it takes renewable energy seriously, and we’re confident it will continue working with the sector to increase the volume of projects deployed in the UK.”

Duncan Clark, senior vice president and head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted (Image: Ørsted)

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said offshore wind is “back on track”. 

He said: “This auction’s success shows this tried and tested investment mechanism, replicated globally, delivers exactly the scale of action needed, with billions of pounds to be pumped into the British economy, replacing aging, polluting infrastructure.”

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Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO (Image: ScottishPower)

Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), said: “As a whole, today’s results represent private sector investment of at least £20bn in the UK economy, which means jobs, skills, and growth.

“We will see this in the east of England from winners in our region, including offshore wind farms East Anglia Three and East Anglia Two being built by ScottishPower Renewables to join its operating East Anglia One, and Orsted’s Hornsea 3.

“A diverse mix of energy technologies is needed to keep the UK powered and reach the 2030 clean energy target, so today’s record breaking success for solar is important, which includes EDF’s Bramford Green solar farm in Suffolk, which will power the equivalent of 14,500 homes.”

Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) (Image: Newsquest)