Vattenfall has been granted a development consent order by business and energy secretary Alok Sharma to build the 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard offshore windfarm.
The installation will be located almost 50 kilometres off the coast and comprise up to 180 turbines with tip heights of up to 350 metres.
“We’re delighted to receive planning consent for Norfolk Vanguard,” said Gunnar Groebler, senior vice president of Vattenfall’s wind business. “This decision justifies the confidence that we have in the offshore wind sector in Britain and we’re looking forward to developing the project and benefitting the local community.”
He continued: “Today’s news sends a strong signal that the UK is serious about its climate ambitions and is open for business to power a green economic recovery.”
The decision on Norfolk Vanguard had previously been delayed twice by the business and energy secretary, mostly recently at the beginning of June. At the same, he revealed a third delay to the decision on Orsted’s 2.4GW Hornsea Three offshore windfarm.
Sharma also announced today that he is “minded-to” to approve Hornsea Three, against the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate. However, he delayed the final decision for a fourth time, setting the deadline for 31 December 2020.
The Planning Inspectorate said the project should not be approved due its impact on conservation sites that are part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network. Sharma agreed that harm to these sites could not be ruled out but gave Vattenfall until 30 September to show how it will undertake “compensatory measures” to offset any damage at other sites in the network.
RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “Investments in major clean energy projects like these are great examples of how we can get the economy moving again, and the secretary of state’s announcement will boost our ability to meet the government’s 2030 target of 40GW of offshore wind.
“The landmark decision on Norfolk Vanguard means the UK is taking a significant step closer towards our net zero emissions target, and confirmation of a positive decision on Hornsea Three will get us there even faster.”
Vattenfall is also awaiting a planning decision on Vanguard’s sister project Norfolk Boreas, which would be of the same size but located more than 70 kilometres off the coast.
The company submitted an application for a development consent order in July 2019. The project is currently undergoing an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, which is expected to conclude on 12 October 2020. Both Vanguard and Boreas are expected to be entered into the next round of Contracts for Difference auctions in 2021.
Danielle Lane, country manager and head offshore wind for Vattenfall in the UK, said: “It’s now vital that other shovel-ready renewable and low-carbon projects are also given the go-ahead as soon as possible. Delays of even just a month or so can set back big infrastructure developments by years in some cases. The UK has to go much further, much faster, if it’s going to reach its net zero targets.”
Last month, the business and energy secretary denied Vattenfall a development consent order for its 340MW Thanet Extension offshore wind project on the grounds that it would pose a risk to shipping in the Thames Estuary.