£4.8bn offshore wind project gets green light

The largest offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea has been given the green light in what the Government said was a major boost to its clean energy targets.

The Mona Offshore Wind Farm, which is expected to cost £4.8bn, could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than a million homes and joint developers bp and Energie Baden-Württemberg AG estimate it will support more than 3,400 jobs in total.

The project will be located entirely in Welsh waters in the east Irish Sea. At the closest points the array area is 28.8 km from the north coast of Wales, 46.9 km from the northwest coast of England, and 46.6 km from the Isle of Man.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  “This government was elected to take back control of our energy- and in our first year we have shown that the clean power revolution is here to stay.

“Whether it’s offshore wind, solar or nuclear, we are backing the builders not the blockers so we deliver the clean homegrown power this country needs to protect family finances through our Plan for Change.”