Centrica seeks consent for Race Bank offshore wind farm

Centrica plc today submitted a planning application for its furthest offshore wind project, which could further underpin British Gas' position as the UK's largest supplier of green energy to domestic customers.British Gas' parent company Centrica, which has the lowest CO2 emissions of any major energy supplier, submitted an application for the Race Bank project to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The application follows a full environmental impact assessment for the wind farm site, 17.4miles off the Lincolnshire coast and 16.8 miles off the north Norfolk coast.Race Bank, with a potential maximum capacity of 620MW, would be capable of supplying clean electricity to around 420,000 British Gas customers, saving significant CO2 emissions and reinforcing the company's commitment to low carbon power generation.The development would include up to three offshore substations. The Race Bank development would be connected to the National Grid network at the existing Walpole substation. In October 2008 the 250 MW Lincs wind farm project, 5 miles off the Lincolnshire coast, received official consent. Subject to Centrica Board approval, a construction timetable for Lincs will be announced in due course. DECC is also considering Centrica's planning application for the Docking Shoal wind farm, 12 miles off the coast of Lincolnshire and 8.7 miles off the north Norfolk coast.
It is expected that the development of these Greater Wash projects would take place through to around 2015 and would make a significant contribution towards the Government's target of 15 per cent of the UK's electricity from renewable sources by 2015.
The full environmental impact assessment (EIA) which accompanies the Race Bank application for consent looks at issues such as marine ecology and ornithology, shipping and navigation, socioeconomic impacts, commercial fishing and coastal processes. Centrica sought the views of key interested parties during its consultations, giving them the opportunity to comment on and influence the nature and type of environmental studies to be carried out.Alan Thompson, Centrica Head of Renewables, said: "The recent energy crisis between Russia and the Ukraine underlines just how important it is to continually invest in the UK's power generation. A responsible renewable strategy will play a significant part in ensuring Britain's security of supply as well as delivering low carbon electricity for future generations."