The 1GW London Array to be built off Kent and Essex has been green lit.

The first phase of the project, worth £2.2bn, is to begin this year and will consist of 175 turbines.

The array will be the biggest offshore wind farm in the world, and will be able to generate enough electricity to power a quarter of Greater London’s homes by 2012.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the array as a “flagship project” which would help the UK meet its energy and emissions targets.

Ed Miliband, secretary for the department of energy and climate change (DECC), said: “This is another green light for green energy. It’s a vote of confidence in the support the Government has put into backing renewable energy.

“The UK is already the world’s leading offshore wind power and this multi-billion pound project will help keep us there, cut our carbon emissions and contribute to secure energy supplies.”

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