Walney wind farm extension granted

The extension to the Walney offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea has been given the go-ahead by government – if built it will triple the size of the wind farm, already one of the biggest in the world.

It is expected to create 230 new jobs over the four year construction period and around 185 jobs annually during the expected 25-year lifespan. Once built, it should generate enough electricity to power over half a million homes.

The Walney Extension project is one of five offshore wind projects that signed an early Contract for Difference under a new system for low-carbon electricity generation, marking a new stage in the growth of the sector.