SMart Wind, a joint venture of Mainstream Renewable Power, Siemens Project Venture and DONG Energy, reports that the Planning Inspectorate has accepted for examination the application for the Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.
Project One, the first offshore wind farm in the Round 3 Hornsea Zone, covers 407 square kilometers located off the Yorkshire coast in the U.K. and is slated to have up to 1.2 GW of capacity once complete.
SMart Wind says it expects a recommendation by the Planning Inspectorate, as well as a decision by the Secretary of State for Energy, by the end of 2014. Subject to any subsequent final investment decision, the project is then expected to progress into the construction phase.
"The announcement today by the Planning Inspectorate marks the culmination of three years of comprehensive pre-application consultation, thousands of hours of surveys and design studies from our supply chain partners and close collaboration with all our stakeholders," commented Chris Jenner, SMart Wind's consenting manager. "We are now fully prepared for the examination process to ensure a positive outcome for Project One. We also believe that future projects within the Hornsea Zone will benefit from the work undertaken to date."
