UK gives RWE green light for 1.2GW Rampion 2
Posted on 04 April 2025
[image: RWE]
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has granted planning consent to RWE’s 1.2GW Rampion 2 wind farm off south England.
The 90-turbine array, which is an extension of the existing 400MW Rampion project that has been online since 2018, will connect to the National Grid at the Bolney substation in Sussex.
A consent decision had been due on 6 February after the Planning Inspectorate finished a six-month examination of the Rampion 2 DCO application last August.
However, the deadline was extended by around eight weeks to allow RWE sufficient time to respond to a request for information from energy department DESNZ on how tougher piling restrictions sought by Natural England could affect delivery of the project.
DESNZ said Miliband had considered the overall planning balance and concluded the public benefits from the wind farm "outweigh the harm identified".
The consent order has been made with modifications including a seasonal piling restriction that will run from 1 March-31 July to mitigate impacts on black seabream plus a commitment to ensuring adequate monitoring, mitigation and compensation for great black-backed gulls.
Construction is slated to begin in 2027-28 ahead of full commercial operations by 2030.
The permit nod is also expected to pave the way for RWE to mount a bid for a Contract for Difference for the scheme in this year’s Allocation Round 7.
Source: https://renews.biz/99858/
