Site revealed for 1200MW wind farm off the coast of Dorset and Hampshire
Greenwise Staff
18th February 2011
The site for a £2 billion offshore wind farm capable of powering up to 820,000 homes off the Dorset and Hampshire coasts and to the west of the Isle of Wight, has been unveiled today.
Dutch developer
Eneco said it intends to site the 900 to 1200-megawatt (MW) farm approximately eight miles away from Peveril Point in Swanage and 10 miles from Bournemouth. It would be just over eight miles south west of The Needles and the Isle of Wight coast.
Wind farm capacity
Eneco said the wind park would provide enough
renewable power for between 615,000 and 820,000 homes. Depending on the size of the farm and turbines used, the company estimates it would carry between 150 and 240 turbines.
Today’s news follows a year’s appraisal by Eneco after the Crown Estate awarded the developer a 279 square mile area of the seabed to explore in January 2010.
"After comprehensively evaluating key aspects of the project in relation to wider stakeholder interests, we have chosen the most suitable location for the wind park," said Chris Sherrington, director of the project. "This is an important milestone in the lifetime of the development of this project and enables us to look to the future and consider wider impacts such as the positive economic benefits our project could bring to the area."
Eneco said it would now undertake a formal consultation process. Construction of the farm is expected to begin in 2016 and to be fully operational by 2019.
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