World’s largest offshore wind farm to create 2,000 jobs off coast of East Yorkshire

The world’s largest offshore wind farm, which will power around one million UK homes, will be built off the coast of East Yorkshire.

DONG Energy has announced that a Final Investment Decision has been made for Hornsea One offshore windfarm, meaning that construction will now go ahead.

Located 75 miles off the Yorkshire coast with a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, Hornsea One will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm by a considerable margin, sapping an area of approximately 160 square miles or over five times the size of the city of Hull.

The project will create around 2,000 jobs during the construction phase, with up to 300 additional jobs supported throughout its 20-25 year operational phase.

A new Siemens blade factory in Hull, due to be built by the end of this year, will support the project, boosting a Northern and UK wide supply chain.

Hornsea One is expected to be fully operational in 2020.

Amber Rudd, the Energy Secretary, said: “Thanks to Government support the UK is the world leader in offshore wind energy and this success story is going from strength to strength.

“Dong Energy’s investment shows that we are open for business and is a vote of confidence in the UK and in our plan to tackle the legacy of under-investment and build an energy infrastructure fit for the 21st century.

“This project means secure, clean energy for the country, jobs and financial security for working people and their families, and more skills and growth boosting the Northern Powerhouse.”