The UK government has given planning permission to Ørsted for the development of the Hornsea 4 wind farm, an offshore wind project off the east coast of England. The decision follows an extended consultation period and examination process.

Ørsted intends to install up to 180 turbines at the site, which is located 69 kilometers off the coast of Yorkshire. The project had faced delays due to concerns regarding its overlapping footprint with a carbon capture project led by bp on the sea floor. However, the Secretary of State stated in the decision letter that the significant benefits of the proposed development in addressing the urgent need for low carbon energy infrastructure outweigh the identified concerns.

Hornsea 4 is poised to become the UK's second largest offshore wind project, with a capacity of up to 2.6GW, capable of powering over one million homes. RenewableUK's Executive Director of Policy, Ana Musat, applauded the government's decision, emphasizing the importance of constructing new clean energy projects to generate affordable power and strengthen domestic supply chains. Musat also highlighted that Hornsea 4 will enhance the country's energy security, reduce reliance on international gas prices, and make significant progress towards achieving the nation's net zero targets.

Hornsea 4 follows the approval of other significant offshore wind projects in the UK, including Hornsea Three, the largest to date with a capacity of 2.8GW, and Hornsea Two, which is already operational with a capacity of 1.3GW. Hornsea One, with a capacity of 1.2GW, has been in operation since 2020.