Wind farm to produce jobs boost

The government has announced a massive expansion in renewable energy around Britain’s coast – and East Sussex is set to be one of the major beneficiaries.

The Crown Estate – which owns the country’s sea bed – has awarded the licence to energy company E.ON to develop an offshore wind farm on Hastings Bank, off the East Sussex coast.

The Hastings bank wind farm will be made up of 100 turbines which together could provide up to 500 MW of electricity - enough power for 250,000 households. The project will cover an area of some 270 sq kms, with the nearest point being just over 13kms and the furthest located some 26 kms from the shoreline.

The government is committed to seeking out ways for wind farms to make a 'significant and practical contribution' to cutting the UK's carbon emissions. In addition, of course, this major energy development will also create tens of thousands of jobs throughout the UK – with East Sussex also set to benefit.

Tuesday, 26th January, 2010