Walney wind farm blows in

The government has given the go-ahead for a major 450MW wind project 14km from

, off the coast of

The Walney wind farm, from Danish developer DONG Energy, is expected to have somewhere between 93-152 turbines, producing enough electricity for approximately 360,000 homes when it comes into operation in 2013.

The 1000MW London Array, the world's largest offshore wind project, also received its final consent. The overhead electricity line, that will eventually connect the onshore sub-station in Kent to the wind farm that is to be sited in the Thames Estuary, has been approved by energy minister Malcolm Wicks.

This follows the announcement in the Queen's Speech on the forthcoming Energy Bill, which will contain measures to band the Renewables Obligation (RO) to provide increased financial support to less developed renewable energy technologies, such as offshore wind.

Wicks said: ‘Our belief in renewables has been questioned recently by some but actions do speak louder than words. We are delivering on our promises to get projects such as Walney and the London Array through the system. The Energy Bill will allow us to increase the amount of backing schemes like this get from the Renewables Obligation. People should recognise that the UK, along with Denmark, is leading the world in the development of offshore wind power.’