The EDP says... energy firms must listen to win over offshore wind farm critics
Construction on Vattenfall's Vanguard project could begin as early as 2020-2021. Picture: Vattenfall - Credit: Archant
Life in some Norfolk villages in the 2020s will be dominated by the construction of offshore wind farms and underground cable corridors.
Through a series of coincidences - shallow waters, high winds, and proximity to south-east England - the coast of Norfolk is on its way to becoming to wind energy what the Arabian peninsula is to oil.
It will mean the UK produces cleaner energy, providing power for millions of homes.
Some new jobs will be created by three new wind farms planned by energy firms Vattenfall and Orsted, although this will be in the hundreds rather than thousands.
The profits generated from the electricity will go to those Scandinavian firms building the wind farms, rather than stay locally, but those firms will still need to spend billions of pounds here.
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Against that, there is the damage to our environment and farmland from digging the cable trenches, noise pollution and disruption to communities.
The wind farm companies have carried out consultations, but Vattenfall's in particular, has been dogged by criticisms.
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Across the routes of the cable corridors we have heard the same concerns, confusion and fears.
This is a bad start.
Although they may not be operating for several years, now is the time for people in Norfolk to make their views known and voices heard about what they think of the plans. And Vattenfall and Orsted must adapt their plans, according to those concerns.
