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Project background

In recent years the UK Government has focused on moving toward low-carbon and UK-sourced energy generation to meet both carbon reduction targets and the need for a secure energy supply. It has committed to a binding target of sourcing 15% of total energy usage in the UK from renewable sources by 2020. In 2013, renewables accounted for a record 14.8% of electricity generated in the UK.

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The UK has adopted ambitious renewable energy targets in order to combat the impacts of climate change and reduce reliance on overseas energy supplies. These are underpinned by the Climate Change Act of 2008 which commits the UK to an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Government’s 2010 National Renewable Energy Action Plan describes offshore wind as a having a major role to play in helping the UK meet its targets.

Developing new, renewable and diverse energy sources can protect the UK from fossil fuel price shocks and contribute to meeting our energy demands in a sustainable, long-term way that will help future generations as well as our own.

Why wind?

The UK is one of the windiest places in Europe, with 40% of all the available wind resource. As a result, offshore wind projects are widely accepted as the central focus of the UK’s plans to increase its renewable energy generation. It offers the benefit of higher average wind speeds and less turbulence compared to onshore wind, so it can produce more energy. Wind is, and will continue to be, part of a broader energy mix. Like nuclear, coal and gas, offshore wind does not generate electricity 100% of the time. This is why we need a diverse mix of energy sources in order to deliver affordable, secure and low carbon power.

Did you know?
Wind is already a large-scale, reliable source of power in the UK that provides enough electricity to supply 5.5 million homes. View source

The Crown Estate

As part of the UK Government’s commitment to harnessing our natural wind resources, The Crown Estate conducted a UK-wide assessment of wind speeds, geology, shipping lanes and other constraints to determine the areas most suitable to generate energy from wind offshore.

In January 2010, The Crown Estate awarded Eneco the exclusive rights to develop an offshore wind park within Zone 7 (West of Isle of Wight), following Round 3 of its Offshore Wind Programme. This is now being jointly developed by Eneco and EDF Energy as Navitus Bay Development Ltd. Find out more

The creation of an offshore wind project pipeline of nearly 50GW by The Crown Estate has put the UK at the forefront of the world market and is attracting key players to set up design and manufacturing facilities in the UK.

Zone Appraisal and Planning

The next step was to identify the most suitable area to locate the proposed wind park within Zone 7. This process is called ‘Zone Appraisal and Planning’ or ZAP, and this was undertaken in 2010 using the data available at the time.

Navitus Bay started by collecting a wide range of environmental data, including:

  • Coastal Processes
  • Ornithology
  • Archaeology
  • Benthic Ecology
  • Commercial Fisheries
  • Marine Mammals
  • Tourism and Recreation
  • Military and Civil Aviation
  • Fish and Shellfish
  • Shipping and Navigation
  • Visual Impact
  • Other Sea Users

In addition, Navitus Bay looked at wind resource mapping, water depths, seabed and metocean conditions, all of which helped to model energy yield and wind park efficiency. Find out more.

 

Notice to Mariners

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