BEIS has granted development consent for Vattenfall’s 1800MW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm off east England.
The decision by Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng gives approval for the construction, operation and maintenance of up to 158 Siemens Gamesa turbines located approximately 72km off the Norfolk coast.
The wind farm will now be eligible to bid in the upcoming CfD Round 4.
Kwarteng said there is a “strong case” for granting development consent given “the national need” for the project.
“The Secretary of State does not believe that this is outweighed by the development’s substantial adverse impacts, as mitigated by the proposed terms of the Order,” stated the decision released on Friday.
“The Secretary of State has therefore, in the light of information received following receipt of the ExA’s Report, decided not to follow the ExA’s recommendation not to make the order, and instead to make the Order granting development consent to include modifications.”
Initial approval for the project was due to be determined in July, but Kwarteng triggered a pause on the process soon after announcing plans to redetermine Vattenfall’s 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard sister project.
Vattenfall country manager Danielle Lane said: “This decision is a win for Norfolk and a win for the climate.
“It means a multi-billion investment in the UK which will keep the East of England at the forefront of the green energy revolution.
“There will be a wealth of supply chain opportunities for companies, as well high skilled green jobs, coming directly to Norfolk.
“This project, alongside its sister project Norfolk Vanguard will be a world leading example of what well-coordinated energy delivery looks like, whilst making sure that low cost renewable energy is produced for UK consumers.
“We look forward to start work in the New Year with local communities, UK suppliers and our partners in Norfolk to bring this project to fruition and unlock its huge potential.”
RenewableUK chief executive Dan McGrail said: “Giving the green light to a major renewable energy project like Norfolk Boreas takes us another step closer towards the UK’s net zero emissions target.
“It’s particularly timely in the year of COP26, which demonstrated the global demand to move faster on action to tackle climate change.
“This project will bring massive benefits to East Anglia and to supply chain companies throughout the country, creating highly-skilled jobs and bringing significant investment in vital infrastructure which will generate clean power in the years ahead.
“Investing in large scale offshore wind power is good for our environment and our economy, boosting the UK’s productivity.
“Projects like this will help us to maintain our global lead in offshore wind as well as building up our UK-based supply chain and our exports.”
Over the past six months, there has been back and forth between the developer and other concerned stakeholders over the cumulative impacts of an onshore substation and the efficacy of proposed wildlife compensation plans for the wind farm.
Natural England and bird charity RSPB asked that Kwarteng’s approval decision be put on hold to allow Vattenfall time to provide more substantial and detailed wildlife compensation measures.
Plans for a combined onshore substation for the Norfolk projects also received push back from Broadlands MP Jerome Mayhew, as well as local resident Ray Pearce, whose successful judicial review ruling quashed Vanguard’s consent earlier this year.
Both parties argued that Vattenfall’s onshore substation plans failed to consider the cumulative impacts of a shared grid connection near Necton including increased traffic and wildlife disruption.