Benefits

A multi-million pound investment, Navitus Bay would bring significant benefits to the local economy and regional ports. According to research from independent consultants, it could support a minimum of 1,700 local jobs during the four year construction phase and 140 local permanent jobs annually for the 25 year operational life of the project. It will help the UK to meet its climate change targets as well as contributing to security of energy supply.

Renewable electricity

In a typical year, Navitus Bay Wind Park could generate enough clean, sustainable energy to power up to 700,000 homes. This would contribute to reducing the UK’s reliance on imported fuels, help increase our security of supply and stabilise electricity prices in the future.*

Reducing CO2 emissions in the UK

The Navitus Bay Wind Park could offset approximately 1,290,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions ** each year.

Creating jobs

Navitus Bay represents a multi-million pound investment which will bring significant benefits to the local economy and local ports. Based on other UK offshore wind projects, the potential economic value Navitus Bay can add to the region over the 25-year lifetime of the project is in excess of £1.62 billion. It is estimated that the project will create a minumum of 1,700 jobs during the construction phase and 140 permanent posts annually over 25 years.

Supporting tourism

We are aware that there has been concern expressed about the impact the development will have on tourism locally. We have recently conducted a survey of local businesses that revealed a degree of optimism or neutrality about the tourism prospects for the region:

• The vast majority (92%) of the tourism businesses interviewed expect their business to increase or remain stable
• Most (72%) believe Navitus Bay Wind Park would have little or no impact on their business prospects⁽ⁱ⁾.
• This optimism was shared by visitors to the region – 86% of Summer-season visitors said the development would not put them off visiting the region in the future ⁽ⁱⁱ⁾.

In addition to this, there is now a large body of evidence collected from coastal locations near existing offshore wind parks to indicate that turbines have often boosted tourism in a number of locations, including Great Yarmouth, where a dedicated visitor centre attracts tourists interested in finding out about offshore wind energy generation. In 2010 this visitor centre in Great Yarmouth, for Scroby Sands offshore wind farm, attracted 40,000 visitors.

Similarly, at Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm in North Wales, the number of trips to the area increased following construction, indicating that people are not discouraged from visiting the region.