Offshore renewable energy
Statement from members of the Government's Renewable Energy Deployment Environmental Issues Project Board... Click here for more information
The UK has the largest potential wind and tidal energy resource in Europe.
Marine wind, wave and tidal power projects are also expected to have an important role in supplying the nation's future energy needs and in meeting the Government's renewable energy target of 10 per cent of UK electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Renewable energy will also be an important factor in meeting Government's longer-term target of a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.
On behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Marine and Fisheries Agency's (MFA) Marine Environment Team are responsible for consenting offshore renewable energy devices under the Food and Environmental Protection Act (FEPA) and Coast Protection Act (CPA).
We work closely with Department for Energy and Climate Change to streamline our licenses with their Electricity Act consents.
FEPA licences and CPA consents issued by the MFA cover English and Welsh waters only. We also issue CPA consents for between 12 and 200 nautical miles off the coast of Scotland.
For similar consents issued by Marine Scotland (links opens in new window).
For similar consents issued by the Northern Ireland Assembly (link opens in new window).
As of November 2007, consents have been issued for a total 14 offshore wind farms and our first wave energy testing hub - Wave Hub. Currently around the English and Welsh coasts we have approximately 120 wind turbines installed producing electricity.
This section explains the FEPA and CPA consenting process for offshore renewables as well as details of projects that have already been granted consent.
Applications can be made online or a form downloaded from this site. We do strongly suggest any potential developer makes contact with us before submitting an application so we can explain our requirements and the process in more detail.