• Vattenfall’s Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm awarded planning consent
• The project, which is part of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone will be able to power around 2million UK homes
• Work will intensify in the New Year to establish the project’s community fund and with suppliers and skills providers in Norfolk as the project readies for construction

Planning consent has today been awarded for Vattenfall’s Norfolk Boreas Wind Farm, in a boost to the UK’s progress towards its offshore wind and climate change goals.

The wind farm, which could produce enough electricity to power almost 2million UK homes, will also bring significant community and skills investment directly into Norfolk. With consent now granted, work will begin to engage with the supply chain to prepare for construction, which is expected to begin in 2023.

Norfolk Boreas, which is part of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone, has been designed to use a coordinated grid connection. Using the very latest technology means that 4X1.5 metre wide cable duct trenches will transport all the electricity produced by both projects. A phased approach to construction will also see cable works completed in short sections along the cable route with the land quickly restored to minimise local and environmental impacts.

The Norfolk Zone includes plans for more than £15million in direct community funding to Norfolk as well as a skills investment package that will support local institutions to upskill the next generation to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities in the industry. The project will also unlock supply chain opportunities across a wide range of sectors – from construction through to operation, and high tech sectors such as Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation.

Danielle Lane, Country Manager for Vattenfall said:
“This announcement and decision is a multi billion pound boost to the UK’s climate change progress, and keeps the East of England at the forefront of the green energy revolution. There will be a wealth of supply chain opportunities for companies, as well high skilled green jobs, coming directly to Norfolk. This project, alongside its sister project Norfolk Vanguard will be a world leading example of what well-coordinated energy delivery looks like, whilst making sure that low cost renewable energy is produced for UK consumers.”  

“We look forward to start work in the New Year with local communities, UK suppliers and our partners in Norfolk to bring this project to fruition and unlock its huge potential.”

Responding to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng to grant consent for Vattenfall’s 1.8GW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:  

"Giving the green light to a major renewable energy project like Norfolk Boreas takes us another step closer towards the UK’s net zero emissions target. It’s particularly timely in the year of COP26, which demonstrated the global demand to move faster on action to tackle climate change.  

“This project will bring massive benefits to East Anglia and to supply chain companies throughout the country, creating highly-skilled jobs and bringing significant investment in vital infrastructure which will generate clean power in the years ahead. 

“Investing in large scale offshore wind power is good for our environment and our economy, boosting the UK’s productivity. Projects like this will help us to maintain our global lead in offshore wind as well as building up our UK-based supply chain and our exports”.