The UK officials have decided to extend the decision deadline for the proposed 1.2 GW Rampion 2 offshore wind extension initiative, indicating that additional information is necessary.
Under the Planning Act 2008, it was mandatory for the Secretary of State to make a decision on the Rampion 2 offshore wind extension initiative by 6 February 2025. However, Michael Shanks, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, chose to allow an extension and established a new deadline of 4 April 2025, to provide time for further inquiries.
According to Shanks, the new deadline for the application does not influence the decision on whether to approve or decline the development consent.
In August 2024, the UK Planning Inspectorate concluded the examination phase after public consultation and review of RWE’s application for the development consent order (DCO).
Following this, a three-month period commenced for submitting a recommendation to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who had until 6 February to determine whether to approve or reject the DCO.
Rampion 2 is being developed as an extension to the existing Rampion offshore wind farm, located off the Sussex coastline.
If granted consent, the initiative could proceed to construction in 2026 or early 2027, with the wind farm expected to be fully operational by the end of the decade.
The original proposal for Rampion 2 included plans for 116 wind turbines; however, following statutory consultations conducted in 2021 and 2022 and feedback regarding visual impacts and transportation from key stakeholders, the developer reduced the size of the array site and the number of turbines to 90.
The project will connect to the national electricity transmission network via underground cables that will run from a landfall at Climping, West Sussex, to the existing National Grid electricity substation at Bolney in Mid-Sussex through the new dedicated Rampion 2 ‘satellite’ substation at Oakendene.
According to RWE, Rampion 2 has a commitment for 1,200 MW to connect to the Bolney substation by 2028/2029.
Rampion 2 represents a partnership between RWE Renewables, the majority stakeholder (50.1 percent), along with partners, a Macquarie-led consortium (25 percent), and Enbridge (24.9 percent).
ADVERTISE ON OFFSHOREWIND.BIZ
Reach your target audience in a single action! OffshoreWIND.biz is read by thousands of offshore wind professionals daily.
Follow offshoreWIND.biz on:
