Construction begins on Sussex Rampion Offshore Wind Farm as funding is agreed.
E.ON has confirmed that it will invest in and build the £1.3bn Rampion Offshore Wind Farm which will be situated 13km off the Sussex coast alongside partners in the project, the Green Investment Bank.
The partnering approach taken by E.ON and the Green Investment Bank, means the green light has been given for full construction to begin on the 400MW capacity, 116 turbine, 72 square km wind farm. When complete the wind farm could provide enough electricity to supply the equivalent of around 300,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 600,000 tonnes per year.
Construction of the onshore substation in Twineham is planned to start in early June, closely followed by preparation works for the onshore cable route. Offshore construction will commence in early 2016 with planned completion in 2018.
Local people will be updated of the work involved through a series of community information events that E.ON will be holding in the forthcoming weeks and months. These will be publicised locally and are aimed at keeping communities local to the construction site informed.
During the planned 3 year offshore construction period it is estimated that around 250 to 300 jobs will be created and local vessels utilised, with 40 roles being based in the project management facility in Newhaven Port. It is expected that a workforce of up to 100 will be needed for the onshore cable route and around a further 40 to 60 people at the onshore substation during onshore construction. Once the wind farm is commissioned and fully operational, it is envisaged that up to 65 full time permanent jobs will be created at the operations and maintenance base.
For more information visit:
https://www.eonenergy.com/About-eon/our-company/generation/planning-for-the-future/wind/offshore/rampion-offshore-wind-farm
For supply chain information please visit http://www.sussexwindenergy.org.uk/ where you can register your company for free now.
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