Southwick Society to host Rampion talk

Chris Tomlinson, development manager at Rampion, E.ON Climate and Renewables, will describe Rampion, the major engineering project destined to produce about 400Mw of electricity from 116 wind turbines built over about 28 square miles of the sea bed.

After a long period of planning and discussion construction began in June 2015, it is expected to be completed in 2018 at a cost of £1.3 billion.

The talk, set to take place on March 13, will tell the story to date of the Rampion Wind Farm growing before our eyes eight miles off the coast.

The immense turbines will be part of our skyline for the next 50 years as they produce renewable energy and reduce our dependency on carbon.

The name ‘Rampion’ was chosen following a competition among local schools and derives from the round-headed rampion, purple downland flower also known as the ‘Pride of Sussex’ and long regarded as the county flower of Sussex.

The cables carrying the electricity come ashore between Lancing and Worthing and thence across the South Downs to the National Grid substation at Bolney.

Because of the sensitivity of the downs the cables will run underground and there is every chance that this could produce some interesting archaeological discoveries.

Nigel Divers, society secretary, said, “Rampion is an exciting, major engineering project designed to produce green energy.

“The talk will explain how this is being achieved in a difficult maritime environment.

“It is history in the making I have no doubt that the talk will be absolutely fascinating on several levels.”

The talk will be held at Southwick Community Centre, Southwick Street, Southwick on Monday, March 13, starting at 7.30pm.

The event is open to all and the admission price is £4 person (£2 for members of the Southwick Society).

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