Centrica and DONG Energy set sights on 2.2 GW offshore wind farm

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Centrica and DONG Energy set sights on 2.2 GW offshore wind farm

Posted at July 20, 2012 » By : admin » Categories : News » Comments Off

UK energy company Centrica and DONG Energy have submitted an application for a 2.2 GW wind farm in the Irish Sea between Anglesey and the Isle of Man.

The Rhiannon Wind Farm project, which is being developed by the companies’ joint venture Celtic Array, will comprise some 147-440 wind turbines.

Centrica and DONG Energy have completed the zonal appraisal and planning (ZAP) information gathering and consultation exercise for the scheme and have now lodged an initial scoping report with the Planning Inspectorate.

The Inspectorate will now consult with statutory bodies on the report over the next 42 days before producing a Scoping Opinion, which will lay out the issues that need to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Assessment.

The partners are planning to submit an application for offshore infrastructure scheduled before the end of 2013 and are in discussions with National Grid regarding potential locations for onshore infrastructure such as the substation on cabling.

All onshore plans will also be subject to local planning permission from the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Formal consultation with the public will also start in the autumn.

If the project gets all the necessary permissions, construction will start in 2017.

Earlier this month, the government gave the green light to Centrica’s 550 MW Race Bank development off the Norfolk coast near to the company’s existing Lincs wind farm, which was officially commissioned last month.

But Centrica’s plans for a further offshore development at Docking Sands was turned down because of concerns over the impact on a colony of sandwich terns.

For further information:
infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/
www.celticarray.com
www.centrica.com/
www.dongenergy.co.uk/

Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5288/