The RSPB has today welcomed the official opening of the London Array offshore windfarm
The 175 turbine project will make the London Array the largest offshore windfarm in the world, generating a significant amount of green electricity and helping in the fight against climate change.
Just as important, however, has been the developer’s sensitive approach to ecological impacts, and in particular the risk that could have been posed to the an internationally important population of red-throated divers had their original plans not been changed. This demonstrates that with care and investment we can have green electricity in harmony with the natural environment, and sends a clear message to the rest of the renewable energy industry – if developers work hard to minimise the risks of their project to wildlife they will be rewarded.
We are also impressed to see the Prime Minister and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker using this occasion to send a strong signal of support for offshore wind and our country’s commitment to fighting climate change. We hope that this is an indication that David Cameron and his Government are ready to provide the leadership we desperately need if more sustainable energy projects like the London Array are to go ahead at the scale and pace required to meet our climate targets.