Cameron praises launch of London Array

The prime minister described the official opening of the world's largest offshore wind farm off the coast of Kent as a "great day for Britain"

David Cameron yesterday (4 July) attended a ceremony in Margate, Kent, marking the official launch of the London Array.

Consisting of 175 turbines and located in the Thames Estuary, 12 miles from the Kent and Essex coasts, London Array is the biggest of its type in the world and, according to Number 10, heralds a “big step forward” for renewable energy in the UK.

The wind farm will generate enough electricity to power 500,000 homes in the South East and will cut carbon emissions from UK energy generation by 900,000 tonnes a year.

At the event Cameron said: “This is a great day for Kent and a great day for Britain. London Array has been built by some of the bravest seamen, the most talented engineers and hardest workers. It will bring benefits to Kent for years to come.”

The wind farm has been built by a consortium of energy companies including Germany’s E.ON, Denmark’s Dong Energy and Masdar, a subsidiary of an Abu Dhabi government-owned firm.