MPs visit wind farm amid extension approval - 'Could power the entire electricity demand for the whole of Sussex'
After a key development in plans for a new wind farm in Sussex, a group of MPs were taken on a tour around the current offshore site to ‘experience the sheer power of the wind’.
In 2019, the Crown Estate approved an application by Rampion Extension Development Limited (RED) for an extension to the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm. The project, known as Rampion 2, will have a generating capacity of up to 1,200MW, compared with 400MW for Rampion 1.
The offshore element of Rampion 2 would include up to 90 wind turbines, with a maximum tip height of 325m above the lowest tide and up to three offshore substations. They would be located within a 196km2 area of search to the west and south east of Rampion 1 – together with a small link or ‘bridge’ area between the two areas for cabling.
Cables would be laid on or beneath the seabed between the wind turbines and offshore substations and between the substations themselves. Export cables would be laid to transmit electricity from the offshore substations to the landfall at Climping Beach, near Littlehampton.
The onshore elements of the scheme include a buried transmission cable, with jointing pits, running for approximately 38.8km through West Sussex from the landfall to a ‘satellite’ project substation in close proximity to the Bolney substation in Mid Sussex – which serves Rampion 1.
The development consent order application was submitted in August 2023 and accepted by PINS in September 2023.
Examination of the application ran from February until August 2024 and a decision was due by early February 2025 – before being delayed until April 2025.
On April 4, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero granted development consent for the project.
Work is not anticipated to start until later in 2025, with Rampion 2 ‘fully operational and connected to the grid’ in 2029 to 2030.
On Friday, July 18, a group of Sussex MPs visited the current Rampion Offshore Wind Farm – eight miles offshore in East Sussex – on a crew transfer vessel, to learn more about how the offshore wind farm works and hear about the future Rampion 2 project.
"They sailed around the wind farm and saw a turbine up close to experience the sheer power of the wind,” a Rampion spokesperson said.
The participating MPs were Alison Bennet (Mid Sussex), Alison Griffiths (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton), Dr Beccy Cooper (Worthing West), James MacCleary (Lewes), Jess Brown-Fuller (Chichester), John Milne (Horsham) and Tom Rutland (East Worthing & Shoreham).
Chris Tomlinson, development and stakeholder manager for Rampion 2, hosted the trip.
He said: “We were delighted to host the MPs and give them an insight into the original and very successful Rampion Wind Farm, and we’re grateful to our Rampion colleagues in Newhaven for taking us to the wind farm in their crew transfer vessel.
“It was wonderful to meet a number of MPs who were elected last year, to introduce them to the Rampion 2 proposals, which when combined with the operating Rampion Wind Farm, could power the entire electricity demand for the whole of Sussex.”
Rampion 2 is being developed by RWE, one of the UK’s most established and experienced renewable energy producers and a global leader in offshore wind. RWE is developing the project on behalf of a joint venture company which includes a Macquarie-led consortium, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (a leading North American energy infrastructure company) and RWE.
Tom Rutland, MP for East Worthing & Shoreham, said: “I had a brilliant time visiting the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm; it was great to see this fantastic clean power project up close and learn more about it. The clean power it produces for the UK is crucial in tackling climate change, so I’m delighted that the government has now granted development consent for Rampion 2.”
Dr Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, said: “Rampion I has been a huge success and it’s great to see Worthing being part of the green energy transition and much-needed reduction in use of fossil fuels. I’ll be working with Rampion to make sure that our precious Sussex Bay environment and our coastal community remain central to the conversation as we look ahead to Rampion 2.”
Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, said: “Offshore wind energy offers this country huge opportunities to move away from fossil fuels and lower electricity bills, so I really valued being able to learn more by visiting Rampion 1 and discussing the significant increase in capacity that Rampion 2 will bring. We also discussed the skills and capacity-building needs within the UK industry.
“In government, the Liberal Democrats drove the growth of offshore wind, and it is imperative that the Labour government makes sure that there is joined up thinking across government so that we can get on with bringing these projects forward. It is key that the growth in net zero scepticism being exploited by some politically is not used to delay or halt projects that will deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity to the country.”
John Milne, MP for Horsham, said: “My recent visit to the Rampion wind farm site was impressive – the turbines themselves are spectacular up close. When Rampion 2 is completed, it will provide enough clean electricity to power the whole of Sussex, making a significant contribution to our net zero ambitions. Unlike fossil fuels, which are sold on global markets, 100 per cent of our wind energy is consumed here in the UK, cutting energy bills while delivering genuine energy security and the well-paid green jobs our communities need.
“The Liberal Democrats have a strong record on renewables - we nearly quadrupled renewable energy generation in government and made the UK the world leader in offshore wind. While I disagree with the siting of the substation at Oakendene near Cowfold, projects like Rampion 2 are vital as we work toward our commitment to reach net zero.”
James MacCleary, MP for Lewes, said: “As a Newhaven resident, I often see the Rampion vessels coming and going – so it was fascinating to get a better understanding of what happens offshore and all the work involved in keeping the lights on. The scale of the operation and the expertise of the team were hugely impressive. Offshore wind is vital to tackling the climate emergency – but it’s also a real opportunity for communities like ours, bringing jobs, investment and skills to the South Coast.
“Liberal Democrats have a clear plan to go further and faster on renewables, breaking the outdated link between gas prices and electricity bills. That means cutting household bills, boosting energy security, and powering Britain with clean, homegrown energy – and projects like Rampion are at the heart of that future. I’ll continue making the case for Rampion 2’s operations and servicing to be based in Newhaven as well – supporting local jobs and ensuring our community remains at the forefront of the green energy transition.”