Vattenfall has taken the wraps off plans for 34 turbines at an up to 340MW Thanet 2 wind farm off the UK east coast.
The developer is planning the extension project some 8km off Kent in water depths of between 13 and 43 metres.
A series of public consultations in Kent are planned and Vattenfall is working on an application for planning permission that will be lodged in early 2018.
The developer was successful in the Crown Estate’s Round 2.5 process in 2010 with a proposed 147MW extension but parked the plans within a year of award due on onshore grid constraints.
It has now revived the plans and hopes to secure consent in mid-2019.
The 300MW Thanet wind farm, which is located 12km off Foreness Point at Margate, consists of 100 Vestas V90 3MW turbines and has been operational since 2010.
Vattenfall will hold five public information days about the extension plans startin on the 20 January in the Thanet area.
The first will be at the Royal Temple Yacht Club in Ramsgate on 20 January, followed by an event on 21 January at Broadstairs Pavillion.
The third session will be held on 23 January at The Walpole in Cliftonville, the fourth at the Guildhall in Sandwich on 26 January and the final event will take place at Cliffsend Village Hall on 28 January.
All the meetings will be from 2pm to 7pm, apart from the one at Broadstairs, which will run from 11am to 4pm.
Vattenfall project director for the Thanet extension Helen Jameson said: “We are at the early stages but it’s important we understand local people’s concerns and hopes for the extension.”
The Swedish company has also made a scoping request to the UK government about the environmental impact assessment.
Image: Vattenfall’s Kentish Flats project (Vattenfall)
