London Array set for start-up in 2012

The UK's London Array wind farm could be producing electricity in time for the London Olympics, in 2012, following the introduction of new subsidies for offshore wind power, writes Tom Nicholls

Last month, the venture's partners – Denmark's Dong Energy, Germany's E.On and the UAE's Masdar – said they would proceed with the DKK16.4bn ($3bn) first phase of the project; this will involve the construction of 175 turbines in the Thames Estuary, with a combined capacity of 630 megawatts (MW). It will be the world's biggest offshore wind farm and not much smaller than the largest onshore wind farm – a 780 MW facility in Texas. The decision followed the government's budget announcement in April that it will increase financial support for offshore wind power – to £525m, it claims. Projects on which an investment decision is made in 2009/10 will receive 2 Renewable Obligation Certificates (R