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The Conservative MP and government minister Graham Stuart has backed Orsted’s plans to build another windfarm – Hornsea Four – in British waters.
Stuart, who is the minister for investment at the Department for International Trade, met with representatives from Orsted earlier this week to discuss the proposed windfarm.
The Hornsea Four project is still at an early stage, but Orsted are proposing to situate the windfarm around 65km off the Yorkshire coast.
Orsted has commenced operations on the Hornsea One offshore windfarm in May, which is set to take the title of the world’s largest offshore windfarm once completed in 2020.
Hornsea Two will be located approximately 89 km off the Yorkshire coast, adjacent to Hornsea One and will have a capacity of 1.4GW.
And the proposed 2,400MW Hornsea Three project would be built off the North Norfolk coast if planning permission is granted.
Speaking after the meeting, Start said Hornsea Four could generate enough electricity to power well over one million homes.
“When we also consider that Hornsea One and Two will become the world’s largest offshore wind farms, not to mention Hornsea Three, it is no exaggeration to state that our region is at the forefront of the UK’s green energy revolution, and an integral part of our strategy to reach net zero by 2050,” said the minister.
“An unsung story is the positive economic case for going green. Orsted is a Danish company that is investing billions in the UK and creating skilled, fulfilling, and well-paid jobs in communities such as ours.
“Our region is demonstrably capturing the global economic opportunities of clean energy and technology. I fully support the vision of Orsted, and in my capacity as an MP and minister for investment, I will champion the benefits of a flourishing green economy.”
Earlier this week, the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) has called for the UK to become the “Saudi Arabia of wind power” by raising offshore wind capacity to 75GW by 2050.
In its new manifesto, the group urged ministers to allow onshore wind projects to compete in contracts for difference (CfD) auctions and scrap plans for a VAT hike on some solar installations.
Orsted’s project development manager Jamie Baldwin, added: “It was great to brief Graham and discuss our Hornsea Four plans. Graham clearly shares Orsted’s vision of creating a world that runs entirely on green energy, and I am pleased that he has offered to support our plans in the East Riding.
“We are approaching our formal consultation for the project this summer and feedback from the local community is extremely important to us. We’ll be hosting a series of events in the region at the start of September and we look forward to showcasing our plans so far,” added Baldwin.
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