Vattenfall’s Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm, located off the UK’s east coast, has been awarded planning consent. The 1.8 GW project is part of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone. Work will now begin to engage with the supply chain to prepare for construction, which is expected to begin in 2023. It has a sister project, the 1.8 GW Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind array, for which Vattenfall were awarded a Development Consent Order in July 2020. The decision to grant the consent was quashed due to procedural matters in February this year, but the project application is expected to be re-determined before the end of 2021.
Norfolk Boreas has been designed to use a co-ordinated grid connection. Employing the latest technology means that 4X1.5 metre wide cable duct trenches will transport all the electricity produced by both Norfolk Zone projects. A phased approach to construction will also see cable works completed in short sections along the cable route with the land restored to minimise local and environmental impacts.
The Norfolk Zone includes plans for more than £15 m in direct community funding to Norfolk as well as a skills investment package that will support local institutions to enable the next generation to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities in the industry. The project will also unlock supply chain opportunities across a wide range of sectors – from construction through to operation, and high tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and digitalisation.
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