Representation by Caroline Ansell MP
- Date submitted
- 30 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I write in support of the expansion of the Rampion Wind Farm. I do this in my capacity as the Member of Parliament for Eastbourne and Willingdon. Offshore Wind has been a British success story rapidly rising to become the most significant generator of renewable energy in the UK. It is also an area of increasing British expertise with the world’s largest wind farms located in UK EEZ. Just this month, the connection to the grid of what will become the world’s largest wind farm at Doggerbank is part of this success story. Whilst not of the same size and scope of these projects, Rampion 1 and 2 will form the largest wind farm on the South Coast and taken together will power the equivalent electricity of all the homes in Sussex. The nationwide target of 50GW of wind power by 2030 will be helped by the additional generation of wind power at Rampion. My constituents of Eastbourne & Willingdon have endured steep rises in the price of electricity and gas this year past. Domestic wind power is therefore mission critical to improve our environment, prevent the volatility of bills and reduce reliance on imports. Estimates that renewables saved £5.9 billion of additional imports suggests energy prices could have been higher without this. This fact also demonstrates the need to continue investing in our renewable capabilities. As we continue to decarbonise the grid – itself essential to meet carbon neutrality ambitions – expanding local wind power will help with new technologies of tomorrow such as hydrogen and powering electric vehicles. I very much hope this project will be successful in securing the necessary planning requirements.