Total U.K. wind power capacity has risen to 5.1 gigawatts, or 4% of total electricity consumption, following the start up of the world's largest offshore wind farm, said industry association RenewableUK Thursday.
Total U.K. wind power capacity has risen to 5.1 gigawatts, or 4% of
total electricity consumption, following the start up of the world's largest
offshore wind farm, said industry association RenewableUK Thursday.
Swedish utility Vattenfall has commissioned the 100-turbine Thanet wind farm
offshore
Kent
,
which is the largest in the world with a capacity of 300 megawatts.
Installed renewable power generation capacity of the
U.K.
is
now equivalent just under 10% of electricity demand, in line with government
targets, RenewableUK said in a statement. Wind turbines can now meet the energy
demands of just under 3 million homes, it said.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said the wind industry can keep
expanding in the
U.K.
"We are in a unique position to become a world leader in this
industry," he said. "We are an island nation and I firmly believe we
should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum."
There are enough wind projects currently under construction to increase current
installed capacity by 50%, said RenewableUK.
Consultancy Ernst and Young said barriers to investment in wind turbines are
getting lower.
"As competition is steadily increasing within the supply chain, we are
seeing signs of the much-needed cost reductions to ensure the investments in
the sector provide a suitable return," said Arnaud Bouille, director of
Ernst and Young's renewable energy team. "Project development and
construction know-how is also rapidly increasing amongst large utilities and
oil and gas companies."
Over 70% of the
U.K.
's
wind turbine capacity is onshore, with the remainder offshore.
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