Vattenfall has today announced that the capacity for the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone will be increased to over 4200MW.
This will take place with no extra impact for local residents, with construction of the complex, which comprises the Norfolk Boreas and Norfolk Vanguard wind farms, taking place within existing plans, the developer said.
The capacity increase will go-ahead after UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps approved a non-material change application for both wind farms to remove their 1.8GW capacity caps and reduce the overall number of turbines across both sites.
This was first reported exclusively in the 5 May edition of subscriber-only reNEWS.
The increase will make the Norfolk Zone one of the largest offshore wind zones in the world, helping to turn East Anglia into a superpower of renewable energy and delivering the government’s ambitious offshore wind targets.
As construction onshore begins in earnest, it is also a chance for local businesses to take advantage of opportunities in the local supply chain, Vattenfall said.
The windfarms in the Norfolk Zone are designed to deliver low cost, renewable electricity to homes and businesses across the UK, using more powerful turbines and world-leading design including a coordinated grid connection, the Swedish developer added.
Rob Anderson, project director of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone, said: “We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to increase the capacity of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone with no additional impact on residents.
“Along with helping to boost the East Anglian economy with jobs, skills and supply chain opportunities, the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone will power even more UK homes with clean energy while turning the region into a powerhouse of renewable energy.”