Plans have been unveiled for the construction of more offshore wind farms that will double the UKÔÇÖs current wind energy capacity and power 1.4 million homes.
The Crown Estate, which manages property for the exchequer, has approved the extension of seven offshore wind farm sites, with additional capacity totalling two gigawatts.
SSE Renewables and RWE Npower Renewables have been given permission to expand their Greater Gabbard project off the Suffolk coast.
Vattenfall Wind Power will extend its Kentish Flats and Thanet projects off the coast of Kent, and Dong Wind UK is set to expand two sites: Burbo Bank, near Liverpool and Walney, Cumbria.
Two sites off the Norfolk coast are also set to expand. Centrica Renewable Energy has also been permitted to install extra capacity on Race Bank, while Warwick Energy can add to its Dudgeon site capacity.
Rob Hastings, The Crown EstateÔÇÖs director of the marine estate, said: ÔÇ£This announcement shows The Crown EstateÔÇÖs commitment to help develop this maturing sector with a view to driving the UK offshore wind energy industry forward and to creating a long-term sustainable energy source for the UK.ÔÇØ
Maria McCaffery, RenewableUKÔÇÖs chief executive said: ÔÇ£TodayÔÇÖs announcement gives definitive and positive evidence of the environmental and commercial viability of existing offshore projects. The site extensions come as a direct consequence of the UKÔÇÖs world beating offshore wind farms showing that, after a successful start, they have further potential for growth.
ÔÇ£It is clear that developers are confident projects will continue to deliver and we welcome The Crown EstateÔÇÖs timely action in ensuring that this happens.ÔÇØ
The Crown Estate owns 12 nautical miles of the UK seabed and the rights to license renewable energy projects on 200 nautical miles of the UK's continental shelf.
Agreements will be finalised with developers over the next few weeks, with construction expected to commence in 2014. Completion of all projects is expected to take place by the end of 2016.
All the extensions will be subject to full, new planning applications, with environmental impact assessments and consultation also being carried out before construction can begin.
The UK has more than 40 gigawatts of offshore wind projects at various stages of development, though only one gigawatt has been installed to date. The new capacity means wind will eventually have the potential to supply one-third of the UKÔÇÖs electricity.
