The Department of Energy and Climate Change gave the go-ahead for an array of up to 240 turbines in the North Sea, worth 1.2GW.
East Anglia One, a joint venture between Scottish Power and Vattenfall, could start generating in 2019. It is the first site from the Crown Estate’s third leasing round to get approval.
Over its three-year construction phase and 20 years of operation, the development is expected to inject £520 million of investment into the regional economy.
Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said: “East Anglia and the rest of the UK have a lot to gain from this development. The project has the potential to inject millions of pounds into the local and national economies, and support thousands of green jobs. Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is crucial in creating job and business opportunities, getting the best deal for customers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports.”
The developers will now enter into detailed negotiations over the ports and suppliers to use for the project, before taking a final investment decision.
Keith Anderson, chief executive of Scottish Power Renewables, said today’s announcement was “an important step forward”.
Gunnar Groebler, head of Vattenfall’s Continental and UK renewables division, said investment in UK supply chains is “essential” to reduce costs in the offshore wind sector.
“That investment will only be made if there is a pipeline of projects,” added Groebler. “Therefore the consent of a scheme like East Anglia ONE – which should be warmly welcomed by everyone – will boost business confidence and help secure more affordable, more reliable and greener power in theUKelectricity mix.”
East Anglia One is the first of six projects in the same zone, which could generate up to 7.2GW if they are all completed.
Maria McCaffery, chief executive of Renewable UK, said: “Our world-beating offshore wind industry is set to more than treble in size by the end of the decade – projects like this will help us to maintain our global lead.”