Wind farms with potential to power 2m homes approved

The Department for Net Zero and Energy Security has granted development consent orders for onshore infrastructure in Fylde for the Morgan and Morecambe offshore wind farms, which are due to be built in the East Irish Sea.

Combined, the wind farms are expected to generate 2GW of energy, which is estimated to be enough to power 2m homes. The wind farms themselves secured planning in August of last year.

This application focused on the transmission assets for the wind farms: export cable circuits reaching landfall at Lytham St Annes, transition joint bays by Blackpool Airport to connect offshore cables to their onshore counterparts, two onshore substations, and 400KV underground export cable circuits connecting those substations to the National Grid Penwortham substation.

The scheme was not without controversy, with local advocates in Fylde pushing the developers to reconsider the location of the proposed onshore substations. These are due to be built on two Green Belt sites: one between Kirkham and Freckleton and another north of Freckleton.

They argued that moving the cable route so it connected to Stanah substation and the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone would result in a savings of £904m. However, the secretary of state agreed with those developing the project noting that changing the route would require a considerable increase in the size of Stanah substation and the installation of a high-voltage overhead line – neither of which was factored into the cost savings estimate. The current route, the secretary agreed, delivered the best outcome being more accessible, with fewer constructions, and better electrical connectivity.

It is worth noting that permission was granted despite one of the wind farms – Morgan – being without a developer after those driving the projects (BP Alternative Energy Investments and Energie Baden-Württemberg AG) pulled out earlier this year.

The Crown Estate, which leased the land for Morgan wind farm, was optimistic that a new developer would be found, having launched an accelerated tender for the scheme in July.

Gus Jaspert, managing director for the marine department at The Crown Estate, said at the time: “Morgan is a strategically important offshore wind project that has already achieved significant development milestones. Our priority has been to move quickly and maintain the momentum already built behind the project.

“By launching an accelerated tender process, we’re offering developers the potential opportunity to take forward a project with substantial consenting and grid progress already in place. That helps keep valuable renewable energy capacity on track while supporting energy security, investment, jobs and growth across the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.”

Aware of the lack of developer for Morgan, the DCO includes a provision that certain land rights will not be granted until a new developer has been found that has access to the necessary funds to complete the scheme.