UPDATE 1-RWE wins approval for UK offshore wind farm

(Recasts with comments from RWE)

LONDON Dec 3 (Reuters) - Britain has given the green light to German utilities group RWE AG (RWEG.DE) to build a 750 megawatt offshore wind farm off the North Wales coast, the government and the company said on Wednesday.

RWE's unit npower renewables said the Gwynt y Mor wind farm, would generate enough power for about half a million homes. It expected to start constructing the farm in 2011 for commissioning in 2014.

To help tackle climate change and secure energy supply, RWE Innogy plans to spend around one billion euros across Europe on renewables every year until 2012.

It was not immediately clear how much npower renewables, a unit of RWE Innogy, is to spend for Gwynt y Mor.

"It brings the total offshore projects with planning approval to 4.5 GW, solidifying UK's position as leader in offshore wind energy," said a spokesperson for the British Wind Energy Association in a statement.

"It will also set us well on our way towards reaching our 2020 renewable energy targets."

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said Gwynt y Mor, together with three other nearby wind farms off the North Wales coast, would provide enough electricity to power 680,000 homes.

There are two wind farms already up and running off the North Wales coast, including North Hoyle with 30 turbines and Burbo with 25.

Rhyl Flats, with 25 turbines, is in the latter part of construction.

(Additional reporting by Nao Nakanishi)

(Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by James Jukwey)