The world’s largest offshore wind farm has been approved by the British government and will be built just off the Kent coast in the UK. The plans show that the wind farm will occupy an area 90 miles square and should be ready to supply power to a quarter of London’s homes by 2010.

However, there are some issues with the farm. Local opposition to an electricity substation has caused the project to be delayed by 18 months already, and costs for the project are spiralling – the original estimate for the build was £1.5 billion however it is now estimated that £2 billion will be required. The RSPB were also against the build claiming that the scheme might threaten the red-throated diver birds that are occasionally seen in winter in that part of Kent.

Ministers are pleased that the project has been given the green light as it will help the UK reduce it’s carbon emissions significantly. However with the worldwide interest in wind farms, there is a growing shortage of materials for the wind farms, and this may yet push costs for the project up.

The wind farm build is being led by Shell and Eon and will see 341 wind turbines in the wind farm. Both companies are reluctant to comment on the project at the moment until commercial contracts and official approval from the National Grid have been approved.

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