Largest offshore wind farm opens off Thanet in Kent

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The world's biggest offshore wind farm off the Kent coast is being officially opened later.

Swedish energy giant Vattenfall said the 100 turbines are expected to generate enough electricity to power 240,000 homes.

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is due to visit the project, which has been built seven miles (12km) off Foreness Point in Thanet.

In all, up to 341 turbines will be installed over a four-year period.

"We are an island nation and I firmly believe we should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum”

Chris Huhne Energy Secretary

Construction work at the £780m wind farm began two years ago and was completed in June.

The 380ft (115m) tall turbines are spread over an area of more than 35 sq km and are visible from the shore on a clear day.

There are currently around 250 wind farms operating in the UK, with a further 12 offshore, with 2,909 turbines in operation in total.

Vattenfall also owns the 30-turbine Kentish Flats wind farm, off Herne Bay, which was one of the UK's first such projects when it opened five years ago.

The progress on wind power has been welcomed by Mr Huhne.


He said: "We are in a unique position to become a world leader in this industry.

"We are an island nation and I firmly believe we should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum.

"I know that there is still more to do to bring forward the large sums of investment we want to see in low-carbon energy in the UK, and we as a government are committed to playing our part."

Environmental campaigners have urged the government to invest more in renewable energy.

Craig Bennett, the campaigns and policy director for Friends of the Earth, said the Thanet wind farm was an "important stride forward" but warned the UK's record on renewable energy was "dismal".

BBC News - Largest offshore wind farm opens off Thanet in Kent
 
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