Huge Rampion Wind Farm Expansion: Formal Public Consultation Opens

A nine week public consultation on proposals for a huge expansion of the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, including a new cable route across Sussex, opened this morning (July 15).

Up to 116 further turbines could be built in what's currently called an "Area of Search" eight miles off the Sussex coast, said renewable energy producer RWE.

It's the same number as the existing Rampion Wind Farm but using newer turbine technology to generate up to an estimated three times the power.

An underground cable route is proposed to carry the power under Climping Beach to Bolney Substation in Twineham, to connect to the National Grid via a new substation required close by.

Bosses said the generated electricity could, given expected wind forces, power over one million homes in the UK.

It could also reduce carbon emissions by around 1.8 million tonnes per year.

The company behind the proposal said technical and environmental surveys, and a four-week informal consultation earlier this year, have helped to establish their proposed cable route, which (like the existing cable route to the east) would be constructed in short sections to bury the cables.

Technology to avoid disruption to communities nearby would include directional underground drilling.

The suggested route would take the cables under Climping Beach, railways, major roads such as the A27, the River Arun, Washington Recreation Ground and other key areas.

Rampion said its workers are committed to full reinstatement of the land, so that it is returned to its former state or better along the whole cable route.

They pointed what what they called "the successful reinstatement of the Rampion 1 cable route", to demonstrate their commitment.

Since January, possible sites for a new electricity substation have been reduced from three to two in the Twineham area following further development work and consultation with the local community.

Chris Tomlinson, from the RWE team exploring Rampion 2 development said:

"We will consider all the consultation feedback alongside the results of technical and environmental surveys, to further refine our proposals and select construction methodologies and environmental mitigations that reduce impacts to a minimum.  

"We will submit our final proposals to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in early 2022.”

“Rampion 2 is the only wind farm proposal off the UK’s south coast, where much of the country’s energy demand is.

"Should the project achieve consent, construction could start around 2025/26 with the wind farm fully operational before the end of the decade, contributing to Government targets to secure clean, green energy supplies and tackle climate change.”

Discussions with local authorities, MPs, parish councils and experts on wildlife, environment, transport, geology, archaeology, business and fishing are promised throughout the consultation and beyond.

What does the company believe the advantages of wind power are?

The cost of offshore wind, RWE said, has halved in just two to three years and is now cheaper than nuclear and coal, while the industry is creating tens of thousands of jobs nationwide.  

The UK leads the world in offshore wind and the Government is committed to quadrupling offshore wind capacity to 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.

Rampion 2 can make a major contribution to this target, bosses believe.

Where can I take part?

Visit https://rampion2.com to see a virtual exhibition, explore detailed proposals with maps and videos, sign up to attend a public forum with the project team, and complete a questionnaire.

Who is RWE?

Rampion 2 is being developed by RWE, which its leaders call "one of the UK’s most established and experienced renewable energy producers".

RWE is a major company in offshore wind and renewable energy production.

It is developing the project on behalf of a joint venture company including a Macquarie-led consortium (comprising Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, the Green Investment Group and the Universities Superannuation Scheme) and a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (a leading North American energy infrastructure company).

Together with owners of the existing Rampion offshore Wind Farm they have signed an Agreement for Lease with The Crown Estate (managers of the seabed) securing an option to develop on the site.