World's Largest Wind Farm Reaches Second Phase In North Of England

If completed, the wind farm would span almost twice the size of Birmingham.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Plans for the world’s largest offshore wind farm have been expanded to an area almost twice the size of Birmingham.

The Hornsea Project Two would span around 480 square kilometres in the North Sea and would create over 2,500 jobs in the UK.

Located 55 miles off the coast of Grimsby the project, if completed, would deliver electricity to around 1.8m homes in the United Kingdom.

The project will be funded by Danish company Dong Energy who have already invested £6bn into the UK economy with Hornsea Project One.

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “The UK’s offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system.”

“Britain is a global leader in offshore wind, and we’re determined to be one of the leading destinations for investment in renewable energy, which means jobs and economic growth right across the country.”

The UK has a set target of using wind power to provide 10 per cent of the entire country’s energy needs by 2020.

It’s a bold initiative that took a blow this year when the chief executive of the UK’s wind industry trade body admitted that England simply isn’t windy enough to justify building any more new wind farms.

Offshore wind farms are a far stronger prospect however and are already providing the UK with 4 per cent of its energy needs.

In Scotland the numbers are even higher. Just last week Scotland was able to provide 106% of its renewable energy requirements for a single day.

High winds in Scotland meant that wind power was able to over-provide energy for the first time on record, pumping 39,645 megawatt hours into the National Grid within 24 hours.

Amazing Solar Farm Photos:

1
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: A solar receiver and boiler on top of a tower at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System are seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
3
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Pictures Of The Week Photo Gallery
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunlight is reflected from panels at a solar plant of Ouarzazate, central Morocco, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Morocco's King Mohammed VI unveiled one of the world's biggest solar plants Thursday, taking advantage of the Sahara sunshine and a growing global push for renewable energy. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)
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EUROPA KLIMA ENERGIEPOLITIK
ASSOCIATED PRESS
** FILE ** A June 6, 2006 aerial file photo of a wind generator plant in the village of Lisewo, northern Poland. The new European Union members hold great potential for solar, wind and biomass power, yet they remain far behind west European countries in adopting renewable energy. Sun-baked Bulgaria, windy Poland and farm-rich Hungary have thousands of megawatts in untapped renewable energy that the European Union wants used to fight global warming. (AP Photo/KFP, Kacper Kowalski) ** zu unserem Korr APD7806 **
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MOROCCO-SOLAR-ENRGY
FADEL SENNA via Getty Images
An aerial view of the solar mirrors at the Noor 1 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, some 20km (12.5 miles) outside the central Moroccan town of Ouarzazate on February 4, 2016. Noor 1 is one of the largest solar plants in the world, which is the first stage of a larger project designed to boost renewable energy production in Morocco. / AFP / FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)
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MOROCCO-SOLAR-ENERGY-NOOR
FADEL SENNA via Getty Images
A picture taken on February 4, 2016 shows an aerial view of the solar mirrors at the Noor 1 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, some 20km (12.5 miles) outside the central Moroccan town of Ouarzazate, ahead of its inauguration. / AFP / FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Aerial Views Of The Primrose Solar Ltd Southwick PV Solar Plant
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Solar panels sit in an array at the Southwick Estate Solar Farm, operated by Primrose Solar Ltd., near Fareham, U.K., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. The plant, situated in 200 acres (81 hectares) of farmland, consists of 175,000 monocrystalline PV modules and has a capacity of 48 megawatts. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Aerial Views Of A Geoguem Solar Park Co. Power Plant
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Solar panels stand at the Geogeum Solar Park Co. solar plant in this aerial photograph taken above Geogeum Island in Goheung, South Korea, on Friday, May 8, 2015. Global solar installations this year may exceed 60 gigawatts and surpass 68 gigawatts next year, according data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Aerial Views Of A Geoguem Solar Park Co. Power Plant
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Solar panels stand at the Geogeum Solar Park Co. solar plant at Geogeum Island in Goheung, South Korea, on Friday, May 8, 2015. Global solar installations this year may exceed 60 gigawatts and surpass 68 gigawatts next year, according data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
11
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
12
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: Mirrors at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System are seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
13
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: A solar receiver and boiler on top of a tower at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System are seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
14
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: Mirrors at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System are seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
15
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
16
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: Mirrors at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System are seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
17
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
18
Massive Solar Electricity Plant Provides Power To California Homes
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
PRIMM, NV - FEBRUARY 20: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is seen in an aerial view on February 20, 2014 in the Mojave Desert in California near Primm, Nevada. The largest solar thermal power-tower system in the world, owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy, opened last week in the Ivanpah Dry Lake and uses 347,000 computer-controlled mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers on top of three 459-foot towers, where water is heated to produce steam to power turbines providing power to more than 140,000 California homes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
19
Aerial Views Of The London Array Offshore Windfarm
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Wind turbines sit in the North Sea at the London Array offshore wind farm, a partnership between Dong Energy A/S, E.ON AG and Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, in the Thames Estuary, U.K., on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The London Array, east of London, has 175 Siemens turbines and a capacity of 630MW. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Aerial Views Of The London Array Offshore Windfarm
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Wind turbines sit in the North Sea at the London Array offshore wind farm, a partnership between Dong Energy A/S, E.ON AG and Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, in the Thames Estuary, U.K., on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The London Array, east of London, has 175 Siemens turbines and a capacity of 630MW. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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General Economy In Jeju As South Korea Set Extra Budget To Help Hospitals And Tourism Affected by MERS
Bloomberg via Getty Images
A wind turbine stands in this aerial photograph taken above the Haengwon Wind Farm in Jeju, South Korea, on Sunday, June 28, 2015. South Koreaâs 15 trillion won ($13.3 billion) extra budget will channel money to the medical and tourism sectors as the Park administration seeks to cushion the impact of a deadly respiratory disease. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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London Array, The World's Largest Wind Farm
Thomas Trutschel via Getty Images
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 03: Aerial view of the London Array, an off-shore wind farm in the Thames Estuary in the United Kingdom on February 03, 2014. The world's largest wind farm is a partnership between Dong Energy A/S, E.ON AG and Masdar. Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
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A picture taken from a helicopter shows
AFP via Getty Images
A picture taken from a helicopter shows wind turbines at the Belwind wind farm, the first renewable electricity central in Belgium, in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, on December 9, 2010. AFP PHOTO BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK (Photo credit should read NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Aerial view of Soya cape wind farm, pinwheel
JTB Photo via Getty Images
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The altenative energies in California, United States in October, 1996.
Raphael GAILLARDE via Getty Images
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 01: The altenative energies in California, United States in October, 1996 - Wind farms of Tehachapi. (Photo by Raphael GAILLARDE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
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Aerial Views Of The Primrose Solar Ltd Southwick PV Solar Plant
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Solar panels sit in an array at the Southwick Estate Solar Farm, operated by Primrose Solar Ltd., near Fareham, U.K., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. The plant, situated in 200 acres (81 hectares) of farmland, consists of 175,000 monocrystalline PV modules and has a capacity of 48 megawatts. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Farming Energy
Michael Phillips via Getty Images
Gemasolar Solar furnace near Seville, Spain. The mirrors focus the sun onto a tower where the heat melts salt. This stored heat is used to power turbines
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