Green Light for 250-MW Burbo Bank Windfarm

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - A 250-megawatt (MW) extension to the Burbo Bank offshore windfarm in the U.K. has received the green light from the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Burbo Bank Extension windfarm will cover an area of 40 square kilometres (km) and is located in the Liverpool Bay, north west of the Wirral coastline. The extension has the potential to power up to 170,000 homes.

The Planning Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Simon Ridley, said: "This is a significant application for the offshore wind energy sector. The Examining Authority took full account of views from communities, particularly in the north west of England, who might be affected by this proposal alongside national policy and evidence of the need for the project. The certainty of knowing when a decision will be made following full consideration of public views provides developers and investors with the confidence needed to plan the infrastructure improvements this country needs to secure future economic growth."

The existing Burbo Bank offshore windfarm, owned by DONG Energy (Fredericia, Denmark), has a capacity of 90 MW.

The extension will be the first offshore windfarm in the U.K. to use an 8 MW turbine, designed by Danish wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas Wind Systems (OTC: VWDRY) (Aarhus, Denmark). In December 2012, DONG and Vestas entered into an agreement to cooperate on a number of test activities for the prototype of the V164-8.0 MW at the Danish National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines in Østerild in order to accelerate the development of the turbine. In January, the first 8 MW turbine at the test centre was turned on with full production expected to start next year. Each turbine will e capable of producing enough electricity for 7,500 homes, Vestas claimed.

The Crown Estate welcomed the government's decision on Burbo Bank.

Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind at The Crown Estate said: "As manager of the U.K. seabed we are delighted to see such positive decisions coming through the planning process, which further support the U.K.'s position as a global leader in offshore wind. The Burbo Bank offshore wind farm benefits from shallow waters and good wind yield and today's consent announcement for an extension represents a solid opportunity to capitalise on the existing wind farm's success".

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