Largest ever offshore wind farm planned

5 July 2007

The world’s biggest wind farm, with 370 turbines towering 150m (492ft) above the waves, is planned for the Bristol Channel. The £3 billion Atlantic Array would cover an area of 350 sq miles (906 sq km) of the Bristol Channel, and should generate 1,500 MW, enough clean renewable energy to provide electricity to more than a million homes (equivalent to 53 per cent of the West Country's current energy needs. According to the company behind the project, Farm Energy, when completed the Atlantic Array could displace 2.3m tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Farm Energy has carried out studies into ecology, shipping and grid connection to ensure the proposal is feasible but the project is still in the early planning stages.Director Peter Crone reckons that “It will be several years before we are in a position to submit a planning application … As yet we have no consents or permits to develop the site and no agreement with the Crown Estate to lease the seabed.” The Government would have to carry out a strategic environmental assessment before deciding if the area was suitable for the scheme. The Department of Trade and Industry would then decide whether to grant or reject the planning application. If the project gains the necessary regulatory approval, building could start in 2013 and could be generating clean renewable electricity by 2018.

The region is seen as having the best prospects for grid connection. Power from the wind farm would be transmitted to shore via submarine cables and then via underground cables into the existing National Grid substation at Alverdiscott. Councillor Humphrey Temperley, Devon County Council (DCC) Executive Member for Economic Regeneration, Strategic Planning and Regional Affairs, argues “North Devon has excellent grid connections via Yell and Alverdiscott and it would put the area at the forefront of renewable energy production.”

DCCl has welcomed the Atlantic Array proposals - which could potentially create hundreds jobs. Councillor Humphrey Temperley said “The proposal represents the best opportunity for the local economy in north Devon in a decade. Ilfracombe, Bideford and Appledore could all share the onshore benefits.” Councillor Margaret Rogers, DCC Executive Member for Environment, said “It is early days but it is also a very exciting prospect if more can be made of offshore wind power to reduce the county’s carbon footprint. Marine life, shipping lanes and fish stocks will all have to be taken into consideration but the benefits of providing power to so many homes are potentially enormous.”

The developers have approached the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) at the outset, seeking the charity’s input in assessing the wildlife value of the site. RSPB will work to ensure that the proposed development does not harm rare or vulnerable wildlife and will ensure that the programme of survey work to identify the use of the area by wildlife is rigorous, and that the information gathered is used to inform the acceptability, and potentially design, of the scheme.