JUNE 2005

London Array, UK’s flagship large offshore wind farm comes a step closer as CORE, E.ON UK and Shell WindEnergy apply for consent

London Array represents potential 10% of the UK Government’s 2010 renewables target

CORE Limited, E.ON UK Renewables and Shell WindEnergy Limited have today announced that their consortium, London Array Limited has submitted consents and planning applications for the London Array offshore wind farm project.

If built, the wind farm could generate up to 1,000 megawatts of renewable electricity, enough for more than 750,000 homes - equivalent to the household demand of Kent and East Sussex combined, or a quarter of greater London homes. The wind farm will also avoid emissions of up to 1.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and could make up to 10% of the UK Government’s 2010 renewables targets.

London Array is the first of the Round 2 UK offshore wind farm projects, awarded an option for a lease by the Crown Estate in December 2003, to apply for consents. The applications come after an extensive consultation process as well as comprehensive technical and environmental studies.

The full development, costing up to £1.5bn, will require up to 270 wind turbines to generate 1,000 megawatts and would connect into the National Grid’s transmission system in Kent. The turbines would be located in the outer Thames Estuary, more than 20 kilometres offshore and equidistant from the coasts of Essex and Kent. Due to the distance of the wind farm from the shore, there is expected to be little visual impact from the coastline.

If consents are granted (by national and local government officials), the construction programme envisages London Array being built in up to four phases. The first phase would be commissioned in 2008, and it is hoped that all phases would be complete by 2010/11. The consortium is hoping for consent to be granted in 2006 to achieve the proposed construction programme.

Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace Executive Director said: “The Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor Sir David King considers climate change to be the greatest challenge our planet has ever faced. It is crucially important that we clean up the way we generate our energy in response to this threat and that means developing renewables like wind power as fast as possible. The UK is blessed with the best wind resource in Europe. The London Array offshore wind farm, which when complete will be the largest wind farm anywhere in the world, represents a major step forward in harnessing the UK’s massive wind resource and will contribute to the UK’s efforts to avoid the worst effects of climate change.”

Graeme Sweeney, CEO of Shell Renewables said: “I am delighted that London Array is the first of the Round 2 UK offshore wind farms to submit its consent applications, setting a precedent for these larger projects. We appreciate the wide and open consultation with all stakeholders that has provided valuable input to our planning applications and we look forward to continuing this as we work towards obtaining consents. This step is particularly pleasing after our recent announcement to proceed with the 108 megawatts Offshore Wind Park Egmond in the Netherlands.”

Jason Scagell, Director of E.ON UK Renewables, said: “It’s only through building more powerful wind farm sites such as this that we’ll be able to reach the Government’s tough targets for renewable generation. This application is further evidence of our commitment to green generation within the UK. Last year we completed the construction of Scroby Sands, one of the UK’s first commercial-sized offshore wind farm, off the coast of Great Yarmouth and we’re progressing further offshore developments around the coast of the UK.”

“E.ON UK is dedicated to working with the government to reduce carbon emissions and further cementing our position as one of the UK’s leading renewable generators.”

Erik Kjær Sørensen, Director of CORE said “Submitting the consents applications is an important milestone in the development of what will be a truly landmark project. It is an excellent example of European companies working together to make a serious contribution to combating climate change, whilst simultaneously pushing forward the frontiers of technological development.

This project will supply the equivalent of a quarter of London’s domestic load and will surely, once and for all, bury the myth that wind energy is insignificant. Furthermore it is merely the first of a number of similar sized wind power schemes that will place the UK market at the forefront of offshore renewable energy development worldwide.”

ENDS

For Further information please contact:

Shell Media Relations: Lisa Givert Tel:+44 (0) 20 7934 2914

Notes to Editors
E.ON UK Renewables is part of the E.ON Group, the world’s largest investor-owned utility. It’s one of the UK’s largest renewable generation businesses, currently generating enough electricity to supply the needs of more than 100,000 homes. E.ON UK Renewables has stakes in around 20 wind farms across the country, is co-firing biomass at three of its power stations and owns the largest hydro power station in England and Wales. The company has recently completed the construction of Scroby Sands, a 60MW offshore wind farm off the coast of Great Yarmouth; and is also progressing further developments in the Solway Firth and Swansea Bay.

Shell WindEnergy was established in 1999 and focuses on development, ownership and operation of large scale wind farms. Shell WindEnergy is part of Shell Renewables, one of the five core businesses of the Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies, established in 1997 to pursue commercial opportunities in solar photovoltaics and wind energy. Shell WindEnergy is one of the 10 largest wind farms asset owners in the world and has stakes in about 740MW operational capacity of wind projects across Europe and the United States. As part of the Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies, Shell WindEnergy has access to considerable experience and expertise in offshore development.

CORE is a joint venture between Farm Energy and ENERGI E2. Farm Energy was originally established as a specialist wind power manufacturing and servicing company in 1988. In 1997, the company reorganised to concentrate on development work for onshore and offshore wind farms in the UK. It was the originator of the London Array project. ENERGI E2 is a leading Danish energy generator, whose production portfolio includes around 810MW of renewable energy, 460MW of which is wind power. E2 has acquired considerable offshore experience and completed in December 2003 the 165MW Nysted offshore wind farm in Denmark.