Where are offshore windfarms and where will they be?
Development in Norfolk/Suffolk.
As part of the government’s renewable energy
targets East Anglia has a regional target of producing 14% of
the region’s electricity from renewable energy by 2010 and
44% by 2020. The biggest opportunity for meeting this target is
from offshore wind power.
The Renewables Obligation
Order is the primary financial incentive driving the offshore
wind industry. It is up to individual regions to market themselves
for development and the Eastern region is very well set up to offer
an attractive package to developers.
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
is the driving force behind economic growth and regeneration in
the East of England and has recognised the vital role that renewable
energy will play in this in bringing
jobs and investment
to the region.
They set up and fund Renewables
East with the sole purpose of developing renewable energy, including
offshore wind energy, in the region. The East
of England Energy Group is also working to support and promote
the region’s potential for renewable energy.
The East of England is being championed as a major international
player in the offshore wind energy industry through the Pushing
Offshore Wind Energy Regions (POWER) project being led, in the UK,
by Suffolk County Council. This three-year project commences in
July 2004 and aims to establish strong links between the offshore
wind energy sector around the North Sea. This project will give
the East of England global significance and strength in the offshore
wind energy industry.
Together, these bodies present an integrated and holistic approach
to marketing the region for the offshore wind energy industry. The
East of England Energy Group’s Mapergy
tool is a good example of this integrated approach and shows
some of the benefits the Eastern region holds for offshore wind
developers.
This demonstrates just a few of the reasons
for locating in this region. Developers are already realising
the advantages of the Eastern region over other locations for developing
wind farms as three areas have been selected for offshore wind energy
development:
· Lowestoft
area, including a centre
for excellence for offshore wind
· Cromer
area
· Yarmouth
area |