U.K. Approves Kentish Flats Offshore Extension

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - One of the U.K.''s first offshore windfarms is set to be expanded following a decision by Swedish energy major Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden).

The company received the green light from the U.K.''s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and will now forge ahead with plans to boost the capacity of the Kentish Flats offshore windfarm by more than 50% with the addition of 17 new turbines with a combined generating capacity of 51-megawatts (MW). Located approximately 8.5-13 kilometers (km) north of Herne Bay and Whitstable in Kent, the windfarm has a generating capacity of 90 MW from its 30 Vestas'' turbines, which are rated at 3 MW each. The Kentish Flats Extension (KFE) will bring the total capacity to 141 MW and generate enough power for approximately 96,000 homes. The extension will cost in excess of €174 million ($228 million) with commissioning expected to take place in late 2015 or early 2016.

"We welcome the Secretary of State''s timely decision," said Goran Loman, Vattenfall''s Project Manager for KFE. "Kentish Flats Extension will make a major contribution to generation from Vattenfall''s large fleet of offshore wind capacity in U.K. waters and help the delivery of U.K. climate change and renewable energy obligations. The decision is good news for businesses in and around Whitstable and Herne Bay. We have already engaged with well over 100 local companies and we hope that many of them will win business from the £150 million plus investment."

Edward Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said "As well as providing large amounts of clean energy, offshore wind will support jobs and generate major investment up and down the country. Vattenfall''s decision to extend an existing project reflects the ongoing attractiveness of the U.K. as a place to do business in renewable energy."

Vattenfall is currently working with the local airport, Manston International, to address challenges posed by the windfarm to radar operations at the airport.

In September last year, the company announced that it would concentrate its future investments in renewable and nuclear energy projects as part of a wide-ranging restructuring of its business units. For additional information, see September 25, 2012, article - Vattenfall to Focus on Renewables and Nuclear.

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