Walney wind farm gets UK approval

Danish state-controlled oil and gas group DONG Energy received UK approval today for its planned Walney offshore wind farm.

The 450 megawatt project is set to be located 14 kilometers from Walney Island, off the coast of Cumbria.

"We are delivering on our promises to get projects such as Walney and the London Array through the system," said UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks.

The electricity line for the 1 gigawatt London Array, the world's largest offshore wind project, also received its final consent today.

DONG is also a developer on the London Array, along with Shell Wind Energy and E.ON Renewables.

"People should recognize that the UK, along with Denmark, is leading the world in the development of offshore wind power," said Wicks.

The Walney wind farm is expected to have between 93 and 152 turbines, producing enough electricity for approximately 360,000 homes when fully operational in 2013.

In August, DONG sold Energi E2 Renovables Ibéricas to E.ON for $996.7 million, including $353.4 million in assumed debt (see E.ON going big with wind).

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