DONG Energy is set to create the largest wind farm of its kind in the world by extending an existing site in Cumbria.

It has been confirmed today that DONG Energy has signed the majority of contracts for the supply and installation of the project at Walney Offshore Wind Farm.

The extension to the existing site is due to be completed and fully commissioned in 2018, when it will become the largest offshore wind farm in the world, eclipsing the London Array Offshore Wind Farm.

The combined electricity output of the completed Walney site will be 660MW and will provide renewable electricity for close to half a million homes.

Samuel Leupold, executive vice-president at DONG Energy, said: “Walney Extension will deliver clean electricity to more than 460,000 UK homes and I’m very glad that we can now start construction of what will be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm when completed.

“Building this offshore wind farm will bring us significantly closer to realising our strategy of having 6.5GW of installed capacity online by 2020.”

After a completed assessment of Walney Offshore Wind Farm and consent received from all affected local authorities, Mr Leupold believes that the extension will go some way to proving that renewable wind energy can compete with other technologies.

The executive vice president added: “British offshore wind has seen phenomenal growth in recent years. A prerequisite for long-term growth in the industry is that offshore wind eventually can compete on costs with other energy technologies.

“Building Walney Extension will bring us one step closer to that target and I’m satisfied to see that we keep bringing costs down, while continuing to expand the UK supply chain.

“I’m also excited about the fact that turbine blades, part of the foundations and cable installation will come from UK manufacturing facilities and create local jobs.”