Covering an area of around 900 km2, the 1,500 MW project – the so-called Atlantic Array – is the property of Farm Energy, the company behind the London Array windfarm project in the Thames Estuary.
Farm Energy director Peter Crone, said “We have carried out studies into ecology, shipping and grid connection to ensure the proposal is feasible” but admitted that it would be several years before the company was in a position to submit a planning application. As yet it has no consents or permits to develop the site and no agreement with the Crown Estate to lease the seabed.
Farm Energy hopes to raise the money privately, without having to resort to public subsidy. The London Array scheme for 270 wind turbines, which received government approval five months ago and will cost £1.5 billion ($3 billion), is backed by Shell and E.ON Energy.
The Atlantic Array project would be twice as expensive because of its size and the depth of the water. If all goes well building will start in 2013 and take five years.
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