Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 7, The UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, has approved the construction of Rampion 2, a 1.2GW offshore wind farm developed by RWE. Located off the south coast of England, this project expands the existing 400MW Rampion wind farm, operational since 2018. The new array, featuring 90 turbines, will connect to the National Grid via the Bolney substation in Sussex.
Initially, a decision on the project’s Development Consent Order (DCO) was expected by February 6, following a six-month review by the Planning Inspectorate that concluded in August 2024. However, the timeline shifted by about eight weeks. This extension allowed RWE to address inquiries from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) regarding stricter piling limits proposed by Natural England and their potential impact on the project’s timeline.
DESNZ stated that Miliband evaluated the planning considerations and determined that the wind farm’s benefits to the public surpass any identified drawbacks. The approval includes adjustments, such as a seasonal restriction on piling activities from March 1 to July 31 to protect black seabream, alongside measures to monitor, mitigate, and compensate for effects on great black-backed gulls.
Construction is scheduled to start between 2027 and 2028, with full operations targeted for 2030. This approval also positions RWE to pursue a Contract for Difference in the UK’s Allocation Round 7 this year. The project, a collaboration between RWE, a Macquarie-led consortium, and an Enbridge Inc. subsidiary, is anticipated to generate 4,000 jobs during construction.
Once operational, Rampion 2 will supply electricity to over one million UK homes. Power will reach land through subsea cables at Climping Beach, then travel via an underground route to a new substation at Oakendene near Cowfold, before linking to the Bolney transmission network.
Danielle Lane, RWE’s Director of Offshore Wind Development for UK and Ireland, expressed enthusiasm about the decision: “We are delighted to receive the development consent order for the proposed Rampion 2 offshore wind farm. This is a key milestone in the development of the project, as Rampion 2 can play an important role in helping secure the UK’s energy supplies from our abundant wind resource and play a key role in supporting the UK government’s clean power ambitions.”
Umair Patel, Rampion 2 project lead, also commented: “This is great news for Rampion 2 and for Sussex, as the wind farm could generate around three-quarters of all the electricity demands for the whole of Sussex and help generate jobs during both construction and operation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sussex community for their input over the past four years, helping us to refine and adapt the proposals to create the best possible project for this site, for the community and the environment.”
