2010-09-23 09:17:37
The world's biggest offshore wind farm off the Kent coast is being officially opened later.
Swedish energy giant Vattenfall said the 100 turbines are expected to generate enough electricity to power 240,000 homes.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is due to visit the project, which has been built seven miles (12km) off Foreness Point in Thanet.
In all, up to 341 turbines will be installed over a four-year period.
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Start Quote
We are an island nation and I firmly believe we should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum
End Quote Chris Huhne Energy Secretary
Construction work at the 780m wind farm began two years ago and was completed in June.
The 380ft (115m) tall turbines are spread over an area of more than 35 sq km and are visible from the shore on a clear day.
There are currently about 250 wind farms operating in the UK, with a further 12 offshore, with 2,909 turbines in operation in total.
Vattenfall also owns the 30-turbine Kentish Flats wind farm, off Herne Bay, which was one of the UK's first such projects when it opened five years ago.
The progress on wind power has been welcomed by Mr Huhne.
'Island nation'
He said: "We are in a unique position to become a world leader in this industry.
"We are an island nation and I firmly believe we should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum.
"I know that there is still more to do to bring forward the large sums of investment we want to see in low-carbon energy in the UK, and we as a government are committed to playing our part."
Environmental campaigners have urged the government to invest more in renewable energy.
Wind farm In all, up to 341 turbines will be installed at the wind farm over a four-year period.
Craig Bennett, the campaigns and policy director for Friends of the Earth, said the Thanet wind farm was an "important stride forward" but warned the UK's record on renewable energy was "dismal".
The total capacity of the UK's onshore and offshore wind turbines now exceeds 5GW, enough to power all the homes in Scotland.
But Professor Ian Fells, an energy expert, said: "What worries me is the government seems to be obsessed with the option of wind farms and neglects other sources of renewable energy, which in may ways could be more important.
"The other problem is they are intermittent. You never know when the wind is going to blow."