Today, Secretary of State Edward Davey joined the Prime Minister David Cameron and DECC Minister Greg Barker at the opening of the World’s largest offshore wind farm, the London Array, in Margate, Kent.
With 175 Siemens’ 3.6 MW wind turbines, the Array will be able to generate 630 MegaWatts of electricity, which is enough power for nearly half a million homes, or the equivalent to two-thirds of Kent.
The project was a £1.5 billion joint venture by energy companies DONG Energy, E.ON, and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s state backed renewable energy company, and involved over 75 organisations and 6,700 people to bring it to fruition.
The investment has benefitted companies from all over the UK with construction supplies ranging from cable manufacturing in Yorkshire to boats from Brightlingsea to wind towers from Scotland.
Of the Array, Edward Davey said:
“London Array is a big deal for offshore wind, a big deal for UK electricity supply and a big deal for inward investment into the UK.
“It’s the biggest offshore wind farm in the world.
“It’s a bulk generator of power feeding into the diverse mix on our grid. Half a million homes will be London Array powered. This is good for good news for keeping our lights on and reducing carbon emissions.
“And it’s attracted billions of inward investment into our economy.
“Everyone involved is to be congratulated for this achievement.
“The Government is reforming the market, and last week announced long term support for offshore wind, to make sure that more projects like this come to fruition.”
Following a helicopter tour of the facility, the PM formally opened the wind farm with a speech in which he welcomed the investment in the UK clean energy sector and called it a “win for local jobs, skills & growth.”
He was joined in speaking by the collaborating companies, represented by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar; Dr Johannes Teyssen, CEO, E.ON; Brent Cheshire, Chairman and Managing Director, DONG Energy and Peter Loescher, President & CEO, Siemens.
[mappress]
Press release, July 4, 2013; Image: Siemens