Vattenfall wins national award for commitment to Norfolk

Vattenfall, which is building Norfolk's Offshore Wind Zone 50km off the Happisburgh shoreline, has won the National Infrastructure Planning Association's (NIPA) Best Project award in part for its work with locals. 

Judges also praised the persistence shown by the Swedish firm's team and their efforts in learning from early challenges, along with the efforts taken to tackle really big challenges in offshore wind, particularly around protecting the environment. 

When the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is fully completed it is expected to produce enough renewable energy for more than four million households and save about six million tonnes of carbon dioxide. 

Although the wind farm has been given the go-ahead from the government, last year more than 80 Norfolk towns and villages joined forces in a failed attempt to persuade the government to refuse planning permission for the project. 

Commenting on winning the award, Kathy Wood, head of consenting and stakeholder engagement at Vattenfall, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of all the hard work that the team have put in to deliver the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.

“So many people have contributed to its success so far so I’m delighted for everyone involved to be recognised for their efforts to deliver such an important clean energy project.”

The first stage of the project - the building of Norfolk Boreas wind farm - is due to start early next year. 

“The Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is crucial to deliver the UK’s climate targets and fossil-free living within a generation, so I’m really pleased that the team has been recognised and that we’ve won the Best Project award," added Rob Anderson, project director of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone. 

“We’ll continue our efforts to keep the local communities engaged, protect the environment and deliver the project in the most efficient way possible.”