Two major wind farm projects approved as Burnham heads to Cop31 climate summit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has welcomed a £12 billion investment in wind farms as he prepares to head to the Cop31 climate summit later on Wednesday. The Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind farms, off the Norfolk coast, are set to be delivering power by 2030, with construction of the set to begin early next year. The funding by e nergy company RWE and investment firm KKR is believed to be biggest investment in renewable energy in UK history.

The financing includes £1 billion from the state-owned National Wealth Fund, the UK’s publicly-owned bank set up to fund public policy. Andy Burnham is due to give a speech at the United Nations’ Cop31 summit on Thursday. Credit: PA “This major investment in UK renewables is a vote of confidence for building in Britain,” said Burnham. “It is great news for billpayers because every turbine we put up is power under British control, not at the mercy of events on the other side of the world.

“With coastal communities from Scotland to East Anglia powering Britain’s future, the places that host this energy benefit from the jobs and opportunities that it brings. “Our National Wealth Fund means that public investment is working alongside private capital to build homegrown energy and bring a return for the taxpayer. Because, for me, a clean energy future is one that brings down bills.” Burnham will join other world leaders at the United Nations’ Cop31 summit in Antalya, Turkey, where he will deliver a speech on Thursday.

RWE said the Vanguard projects represent one of the UK’s largest offshore wind developments, generating around 2.8 gigawatts, enough to supply three million homes. The government said the investment would support more than 2,400 jobs in the construction and operation phases. RWE chief executive Markus Krebber said: “Together with KKR, we are delivering two of the UK’s largest offshore wind projects, strengthening domestic electricity generation and making an important contribution to the country’s long-term energy security.”

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Meanwhile SSE has announced the creation of 130 jobs in the latest stage of its Berwick Bank B wind farm project – 80 new SSE roles in Glasgow and 50 new Siemens Energy roles at Montrose Port. SSE chose Siemens Energy as the preferred supplier for turbines and substation platforms for Berwick Bank B, around 38 kilometres off the Scottish coast in the outer Firth of Forth.

SSE chief executive Martin Pibworth said: “Berwick Bank B is a huge opportunity for the UK and, working with Siemens Energy, we’re backing those industrial capabilities while building the infrastructure needed for a more affordable and secure energy system. “And it’s a powerful and timely example as world leaders gather at Cop31. There is already a clear acknowledgement that clean electrification is the route to decarbonisation, greater energy security and sustainably lower bills.

“We hope to see the ambition needed to turn that recognition into more investment like this.” Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “As the world gathers at Cop31, Britain is leading from the front as a renewable energy powerhouse, turning the fight against climate change into a brighter future for British companies, industrial communities, and future generations.” Have you heard our podcast Talking Politics? Tom and Robert dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda in every episode…