Overview

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, 13 kilometers off West Sussex in the English Channel, is the first large-scale wind farm on England's South Coast. The 400 MW project was completed in September 2017 and became operational in April 2018, providing clean energy to a significant portion of West Sussex. It utilizes 116 Vestas V112-3.45 MW turbines. The operation and maintenance of the wind farm are carried out from a dedicated facility located at Newhaven Port.

Initially planned for 700 MW, the offshore wind farm was scaled to 400 MW due to various project constraints. The wind farm spans a 70 square kilometer area, 13 to 20 kilometers offshore.Rampion 2, is an extension project currently under development. This expansion aims to significantly boost the wind farm's capacity, potentially providing clean energy to all homes in Sussex.

Project Background

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm project began in January 2010 when The Crown Estate awarded E.ON the exclusive rights to develop an offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast. Over the subsequent two years, E.ON engaged extensively with the local community, conducted engineering studies, and performed environmental surveys to ensure the project's feasibility and ecological compatibility. A unique aspect of the project was its name, chosen through a local school competition, which helped foster community involvement and support.

In March 2013, after thorough planning and community engagement, E.ON submitted the final development proposal. Following a rigorous review, the project received approval from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in July 2014. This approval paved the way for the commencement of construction in September 2015.

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The final layout of the Rampion windfarm was an increase in the distance between the closest offshore wind turbine and the Heritage Coast, doubling the original gap and reducing the visual impact by a third compared to the initial layout. Additionally, the layout was designed to avoid the '9miler' dredging fishing area and the Shoreham Port's anchorage and straight passage, ensuring minimal disruption to existing maritime activities.

The Rampion Wind Farm is a collaborative venture involving E.ON, the UK Green Investment Bank, and Enbridge. The project's financial structure includes  stakes held by RWE Renewables UK Limited (50.1%), Enbridge (24.9%), and Equitix (25%). The wind farm, expected to operate for 25 years, represents a significant step towards sustainable energy production in the region.

Project Location and Map

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is located in the English Channel, 13 kilometers off the coast of West Sussex, England.

Project Cost

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm project has a total construction cost of GBP 1.3 billion (USD 1.1 Billion). This substantial expense was shared by the project's three shareholders: RWE Renewables UK Limited (50.1%), Enbridge (24.9%), and Equitix (25%). It's worth noting that this figure solely represents the wind farm's construction cost. There's an additional cost associated with the wind farm's transmission assets, estimated at GBP 388 million by the developers in 2018. The UK Green Investment Group also played a role in this venture, acquiring a GBP 236 million stake, contributing to the overall project cost.

Technical Specifications

The Rampion Offshore windfarm spans 70 square kilometers, 13 to 20 kilometers offshore. It utilizes 116 Vestas V112-3.45 MW turbines, each 140 meters tall with 55-meter blades and a 112-meter rotor diameter. These turbines are spaced at least 750 meters apart and interconnected by a network of underwater cables for optimal wind capture.

A powerful offshore substation weighing 3,000 tonnes collects electricity generated by the turbines. This substation converts the power from the turbines to a higher voltage of 150kV. The electricity is further boosted to 400kV at an onshore substation before feeding into the national grid.

Read: Top 7 Floating Offshore Wind Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

A network of onshore and offshore cables ensures efficient electricity transmission from the turbines to the national grid. Twenty-seven kilometers of buried onshore cable route connect the wind farm to the national grid. Within the wind farm, 144 kilometers of inter-array cables link the turbines in strings of nine to ten each. These inter-array cables operate at 33kV and deliver electricity to the central offshore substation. Finally, 16 kilometers of offshore export cables carry the transformed 150kV electricity from the offshore substation to the onshore grid connection point.

Each turbine rests on a monopile foundation for stability. These foundations weigh between 550 and 800 tonnes and vary in length from 60 to 80 meters. Additionally, 250-tonne transition pieces further secure these structures.

Project Timeline

Contractors Involved 

Project Benefits

The offshore wind farm generates around 1,366 GWh annually, enough to power approximately 350,000 homes, meeting a significant portion of Sussex's residential energy requirements. Furthermore, the wind farm's operation significantly reduces electricity generation from fossil fuel power plants, thereby avoiding the emission of nearly 600,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. 

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This displacement effect occurs as the National Grid continuously balances supply and demand for electricity. As wind energy is integrated into the grid, conventional generators can decrease their output, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their associated CO2 emissions.

Current Status & Future Outlook

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is currently operational. Rampion 2 promises to generate power for over 1 million homes, contributing significantly to the United Kingdom's goal of sourcing a third of its electricity from offshore wind by 2030.

In November 2024, the UK Planning Inspectorate has submitted its recommendation report for Rampion 2. The proposed 1.2 GW offshore wind farm extension is located in Sussex.  A decision is expected by 6 February 2025 by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

If approved, construction of Rampion 2 could begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and the wind farm will be operational before 2030. The project led by RWE, proposes 90 turbines located 13–25 kilometers offshore, connecting to the national grid via underground cables. RWE reduced the turbine count from 116 to 90 after consultations addressing visual and shipping concerns.

Summary

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is a landmark project in the United Kingdom's renewable energy industry, representing the first large-scale offshore wind farm on England's south coast. Commissioned in April 2018, it has a capacity of 400 MW from 116 turbines, enough to power approximately 350,000 homes annually and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The project, developed by E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Rampion Offshore Wind Limited in partnership with Enbridge and Equitix, was a significant investment of GBP 1.3 billion. Its success has paved the way for the upcoming Rampion 2 expansion, which aims to enhance the region's green energy output further and support the UK's ambitious renewable energy targets.

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