FIFTH MEGA WINDFARM PROJECT SCRAPPED IN JUST THREE MONTHS

Plans for a huge expansion of the world's largest windfarm, the London Array in the Thames Estuary, have been scrapped. The consortium running the project blame the abandonment of an additional 65 giant turbines on "various factors", but especially the requirement for a 3-year study on the potential impact on birds. The Thames estuary site is a designated environmental Special Protection Area.

The decision represents a major blow to the coalition government's renewable energy goals. Not least as it is the fifth major UK windfarm project to be scrapped or scaled back in just three months. In November 2013 the Atlantic Array, a project for 240 turbines off the North Devon coast was scrapped. That was followed in December by the abandonment of the 300 turbine Argyll Array due to "uncertain costs". Since then plans for 350 turbines covering two windfarms off the Lincolnshire coast have also had the plug pulled.

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