UK to add 215MW to wind fleet

Malcolm Wicks, the UK energy minister, today granted permission for the construction of three new wind farms in north Lincolnshire, south Yorkshire and the Thames Estuary.

The new wind farms will have a combined output of 215MW, which the government claims is enough to supply renewable energy to 109,000 homes.

E.ON UK Renewables (E.ON) has been granted consent to build a 66MW onshore wind farm planned at Thorne, south Yorkshire whilst in Keadby, north Lincolnshire, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) will erect 39 onshore turbines capable of producing 85MW.

A 64MW offshore wind farm (Gunfleet Sands II) is also planned for the Thames Estuary. The development by DONG Energy will lay a minimum of five miles from the Essex coast at Frinton-on-Sea on the seaward side of the already consented, but not yet built, 90MW Gunfleet Sands wind farm. Gunfleet Sands II will comprise a maximum of 22 turbines.