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The world's second largest offshore wind farm has been given the green light to be built off the coast of North Wales.
Gwynt y Mor Offshore Wind Farm combined with three other nearby wind farms off the North Wales coast will provide enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of 680,000 homes.
The 750MW development by Npower Renewables Ltd has been approved by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Comprising of up to 250 turbines, it will lie some eight miles off the coast, ten miles from Llandudno and eleven miles from the Wirral.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The North Wales coast is set to become a powerhouse for renewable energy. Gwynt y Mor will be the largest of four offshore wind farms which combined will have the potential to power the equivalent of around 680,000 homes with green electricity.
"The UK must clean up its energy supply to fight the damaging effects of climate change and more wind power will help us do this.
"The UK is leading the world in offshore wind, and the developments off the coast of North Wales will help keep us front runners."
A spokesperson for the British Wind Energy Association said: "This is fantastic news. Gwynt y Mor is a landmark project both for Wales and the United Kingdom as a whole. It brings the total offshore projects with planning approval to 4.5 GW, solidifying UK's position as leader in offshore wind energy. It will also set us well on our way towards reaching our 2020 renewable energy targets."
Meanwhile, in a separate development, offshore renewable energy usage in Northern Ireland took another step forward yesterday, with the appointment of a contractor to conduct further viability studies.
NI Energy Minister Arlene Foster sanctioned Faber Maunsell, a major UK consultancy, to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of offshore wind and marine renewables in Irish waters.
A SEA is the study of environmental issues that must be taken into early consideration when developing plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development.
(CD)(BMcC)
