Offshore wind farms get approval to double capacity

The proposed extension will double the efforts of two wind farms located in Norfolk

Plans to extend two Norfolk offshore wind farms have been given permission to go ahead by Claire Coutinho, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Equinor, who co-owns the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind farms in Norfolk, said it hopes the plans would mean it could double capacity and provide renewable energy to power an additional 785,000 homes.

The decision was granted by the secretary of state for energy security and net zero and will include up to 53 new turbines.

Halfdan Brustad, the vice-president of Equinor, said: "We look forward to contributing even more positively to the local region and the UK’s offshore wind growth."

The plans include establishing up to two offshore transformer substations, a marine connection to the shore with subsea electrical circuits and a 60m wide export cable corridor to the landfall in Weybourne.

The proposed permanent development area for the onshore substation would be located north of Swainsthorpe.

'Decarbonising energy systems'

Katie-jo Luxton, the director of conservation at The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: “Offshore wind has an essential part to play in decarbonising our energy systems to achieve net zero and mitigate the effects of climate change.

"The approval of Dudgeon and Sheringham extensions will now also impact vital colonies of amber-listed sandwich terns from north Norfolk."

Mr Brustad said: "We are delighted with the secretary of state’s decision to award consent, doubling the capacity of the existing projects, and clearing the way forward to significantly contribute to the UK’s offshore wind and net-zero targets by 2030.

"The extension projects have been developed carefully over the last five years, with innovative approaches to transmission planning and consenting, underpinned by close engagement with the local community.

"The extensions build on our longstanding presence in Norfolk and we look forward to contributing even more positively to the local region and the UK’s offshore wind growth."