In a major advance for the country's green energy future, the United Kingdom on Tuesday approved the construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm.
The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck wind project will include up to 400 wind turbines and will be situated 131 km (roughly 81 miles) off the coast of Yorkshire, England. Compromising two seperate wind farms, the project boasts an overall maximum capacity of 2400MW, which officials estimate will generate enough electricity to power almost 2 million homes.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey called the approval a "great boost" for the region, adding that the development has the potential to support up to 900 green jobs.
"Making the most of Britain's home grown energy is creating jobs and businesses in the U.K., getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports," Davey continued, adding that wind power is "vital" to the country's green energy plan.
Once complete, Dogger Bank Creyke Beck is expected to be one of U.K.'s largest power generators.
In a press statement, Tarald Gjerde, General Manager of project developer the Forewind consortium said that approval of the project "will help confirm the U.K.'s position as the world leader in the industry." Forewind is owned by international energy companies RWE, SSE, Statkraft and Statoil.
