British wind farm plans unveiled

Plans for the world’s largest offshore wind farm moved a step closer today when 15 new sites around the UK coastline were announced.

The wind farms are expected to produce electricity for more than one in six households in the UK by the end of the decade.

The sites will be built in three areas of shallow sea around the Thames Estuary, Greater Wash and the North West.

British Energy Minister Stephen Timms said: “This is the biggest expansion of renewable energy anywhere in the world and demonstrates that we are serious about moving towards a cleaner, greener future.”

Mr Timms said the response from companies to build a new generation of offshore wind farms had been “overwhelming”.

Plans have now been put forward which would provide electricity for four million homes.

The proposals include the world’s largest offshore wind farm around 40 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coastline which could have up to 250 or more turbines.

The British government is committed to providing 10% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by the year 2010, with the aim of doubling this figure by the year 2020.

Wind farms are likely to account for 80% of this capacity.

Friends of the Earth welcomed the announcement and said it showed the government was serious about meeting its targets on renewable energy.

An official said the new wind farms would bring environmental benefits including biodiversity of the sea.