Bristol Channel Zone awarded to RWE npower renewables

The Bristol Channel Zone is one of nine UK development zones released by The Crown Estate as part of its third round of offshore wind farm leasing. Together the zones represent the largest energy infrastructure initiative in the world, with a potential generation capacity of around 25GW.

The Bristol Channel Zone is located in the outer Bristol Channel, within which RWE npower renewables intends to develop a project called Atlantic Array Wind Farm. Atlantic Array would be 18 kilometres off the South Wales coast and 14 km off the North Devon coast and when fully operational, it is estimated to have the potential to generate up to 1,500MW of clean energy.

Paul Coffey, Chief Operating Officer, RWE Innogy, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to develop what will be one of the most significant renewable energy projects in the UK.

"By developing Atlantic Array Wind Farm within the Bristol Channel Zone we will play a leading role in meeting the UK's challenging targets for generating renewable energy and reducing the impacts of climate change, while helping to improve domestic energy security in the future.

"RWE npower renewables is a highly experienced offshore wind farm developer and is committed to developing a wind farm that is appropriate for the location and considerate of the local onshore and offshore environments. 
 
"Development of the nine Round 3 zones represents a fantastic opportunity for UK businesses and the supply chain to gear up in support of the growing offshore wind industry and to reap the economic and employment benefits this represents."

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:  Our island has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe and today’s news shows we’re creating the right conditions for the energy industry to invest in harnessing it.  This is one of the strongest signals yet that the UK is locked irreversibly into a low carbon, energy secure prosperous future.

Roger Bright CB, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate said: I am delighted to announce that RWE npower renewables has been awarded the right to develop the Bristol Channel Zone in our Round 3 offshore wind programme. The 32GW of installed capacity proposed by the offshore wind energy developers for 2020 would supply a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs. This means the UK will have a secure and low carbon electricity supply. In addition, the UK economy will benefit as offshore wind is a growth industry that will create new businesses and jobs as well as attracting inward investment. The Crown Estate has the vested rights to develop the UK seabed for renewable energy and will continue to be a co-investor up to the point of consent. Our role now is to work together with our development partners to help deliver the projects.

Today’s announcement means that RWE npower renewables, the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy, is now the official Development Partner for Bristol Channel Zone, having signed a Zone Development Agreement with The Crown Estate granting exclusive zone development.
 
RWE npower renewables will now begin the development process which will include detailed consultation with local and national stakeholders.

RWE npower renewables is committed to developing an appropriate wind farm proposal for the site. A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken to assess the potential impact of the proposed project on the biological, physical and human environment.
 
The Crown Estate also announced that the Development Partner for the Dogger Bank Zone is the Forewind Consortium², of which RWE npower renewables is one of four partners. Dogger Bank is the largest of the nine zones released by The Crown Estate for offshore development. The zone provides for an estimated installed capacity of around 9GW, with a potential for up to 13GW.

Ends
 
Contacts
Konrad Boecker, Press Officer                Claire Ryall, PR Officer
RWE Innogy                                          RWE npower renewables
T: 01793 894947                                    T: 01793 894330
M: 07901009667                                    M: 07500 22 67 98
E: Konrad.Boecker@rwe.com                   E: claire.ryall@rwe.com

Editor’s notes

A map is available upon request.

1. RWE npower renewables is the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy and is one of the UK’s leading renewable energy developers and operators, committed to developing and operating wind farms and hydro plant to produce sustainable electricity. The company operates 18 hydroelectric power projects and 23 wind farms in the UK, including the country’s first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle.  RWE npower renewables is also working with marine energy technology partners to deliver new wave and tidal stream power projects in the UK.  Through our existing projects and those in development, we are working in close partnership with communities and companies throughout the UK. 



RWE npower renewables is a sister company to RWE npower, a leading integrated UK energy company with around 6.8 million customer accounts.  RWE npower also owns and operates a flexible portfolio of conventional power stations as well as a portfolio of cogeneration plant producing more than 10% of the electricity used in England and Wales.  For further information about RWE npower renewables and RWE Innogy visit www.npower-renewables.com   and www.rweinnogy.com    For further information about RWE npower visit www.rwenpower.com  


²Forewind’s four partners are: Scottish and Southern Energy Plc; RWE npower renewables, the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy, and two of Norway’s largest companies, Statkraft and Statoil.