1. What have you been awarded following the Round Three process?
2. Where is the zone?
The East Anglia Zone is located off the coast of East Anglia. At the closest point the zone is 14km from shore.
Within the zone there will be a number of windfarm projects. The first project to be brought forward for development within the zone is the proposed East Anglia ONE windfarm.
Future projects within the zone will be identified as part of the Zonal Appraisal Process which will take into account the environmental, technical and physical constraints which exist within the zone to ensure a sensible approach to zonal development is taken.
3. How big is the zone?
The zone covers approximately 6000km2.
4. What is the potential MW capacity of the zone?
We have a target capacity of 7,200MW and will work with the stakeholders to fully develop the zone's potential. 7,200MW would provide enough clean green energy to power over 5 million households.
5. How many turbines?
This will be fully determined during the environmental assessments for each of the development projects within the zone, and will consider turbine technology advancements.
6. When do you hope to start construction?
Construction dates will depend on the timing and success of consents. We expect the first offshore construction to commence on East Anglia ONE in approximately 2015.
7. Can you explain the connection to the onshore grid network?
East Anglia Offshore Wind has been awarded a 7,200MW of grid connection for the zone by National Grid. The grid offer identifies connection points to the transmission network will be made via Bramford, Lowestoft and Norwich.
Grid connection information for East Anglia ONE is provided within the East Anglia ONE FAQs. No feasibility work has yet been undertaken on grid connection proposals for future projects. Further information on grid connections for future projects will be made available as the development of the zone progresses.
8. When will the windfarms be complete?
A large development of this type represents a long-term commitment by ScottishPower Renewables and Vattenfall to the area. Build programmes are expected to be continuous from 2015 with the last project commencing construction activity in 2020.
9. How tall are the turbines likely to be?
At present it is too early to say, but we will be guided by the findings of our Environmental Impact Assessments and the turbines available on the market.
10. How many jobs will the East Anglia Zone create?
It is too early to say but Renewable UK (formerly BWEA) say that approximately 70,000 jobs will be created in the UK renewables industry by 2020.
The Crown Estate are leading on developing the supply chain to ensure the industries and skilled people are available to support the Round 3 offshore wind programme are in place.
More information on The Crown Estate activities can be viewed on their website: http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/supply-chain-skills
11. The zone has some major shipping and ferry routes, will the windfarms force them to be moved?
We are undertaking an extensive consultation process through the development of the zone and have been in direct communication with all appropriate stakeholders. The Zone appraisal processes designed to specifically deal with issues that require strategic planning, so that where effects are identified, any mitigation required will be agreed by shipping consultees and enacted as a solution for all projects within the East Anglia Zone.
12. Why is Vattenfall and ScottishPower Renewables a good match?
Vattenfall operates one of the largest portfolios of offshore wind in Europe and is currently constructing two large projects in UK waters. It therefore has extensive experience of building offshore windfarms. ScottishPower Renewables has an excellent record for designing and consenting wind projects across the UK. It is clear then, that the skill sets of both compliments each other very well.