Brussels, 28/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank announced on Wednesday 23 November that it was to provide £150 million of long-term funding to Vattenfall for the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm. With 100 wind turbines, each 115 metres tall, and a generating capacity of 300MW, this is the largest offshore wind farm operating anywhere in the world. The wind farm, inaugurated in September 2010, is an important step in enabling the United Kingdom to achieve renewable energy targets and generating 15% of energy needs from renewable sources by 2020.
Located 12 kilometres off Foreness Point, the most easterly part of Kent, the entire Thanet wind farm covers 35 square kilometres. Thanet produces enough electricity to supply more than 200,000 homes with clean electricity. European Investment Bank support for the project has been dependent on fulfilment of comprehensive environmental assessments, including evaluation of the project's potential impact on marine and birdlife.
The European Investment Bank is also expected to fund a transmission link connecting the Thanet wind farm to the national grid. (OL/transl.rt)