The UK government has announced a £12bn investment in offshore wind from German energy company RWE and US private equity firm KKR, as the prime minister prepares to attend the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey.
The package will fund the creation of the Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore windfarms off the Norfolk coast. Andy Burnham called it a “vote of confidence for building in Britain”, saying it is “great news for bill payers because every turbine we put up is power under British control, not at the mercy of events on the other side of the world”.
Investment details and job creation
The offshore wind projects will also receive £1bn in funding from the state-owned national wealth fund. The windfarms are set to begin construction early next year and are expected to provide power by 2030.
The government said the wind investment is “believed to be the biggest of its kind in UK history”. RWE said the Vanguard project represents one of the UK’s largest offshore wind developments, generating about 2.8 gigawatts, enough to supply 3m homes.
RWE estimated that construction will create and support 2,300 jobs each year through its supply chain, with a further 100 long-term permanent jobs expected once the windfarms are operational.
Government green credentials under pressure
The announcement comes as Burnham seeks to bolster his government’s under-fire green credentials at Cop31, where he is expected to give a speech on Thursday. The prime minister has faced backlash from Labour MPs and environmental campaigners over the approval of the Jackdaw gasfield.
On Tuesday, ministers also rejected plans for what would have been Britain’s biggest solar plant near the Blenheim Palace estate. Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh turned down the £800m Botley West project, which would have covered almost 3,500 acres. Developers said it would have powered 330,000 homes.
Margaret Curran, in a letter on behalf of the energy secretary, wrote that the project would cause “substantial harm” to the green belt and the Blenheim Estate. The energy secretary said investment in offshore wind was “creating quality jobs and rebuilding industry, while delivering the clean power we need to lower bills and reach net zero”.
