Renewables support praised

Leading green energy trade body BWEA (British Wind Energy Association) has welcomed this week’s backing for a UK renewables drive from ministers. UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen delivered positive indications on the future of green energy, which comes as a timely boost following last week’s discussion on a new nuclear programme.

Energy Minister Wicks revealed that a massive 85% of the UK public support the use of renewables, according to the findings of a DTI survey. Crucially, the study also found a strong level of support for wind farms in particular, with 81% backing the technology and 60% saying that they would be willing to live within 5km of a development.

Deputy First Minister Stephen announced a new short term £20m funding package for wave and tidal stream generation, underlining the Executive’s support of developing renewable technologies.

Chris Tomlinson, BWEA’s Director of Operations said; “BWEA warmly welcomes this timely announcement from the UK Government and the Scottish Executive, both reaffirming their belief in the renewables sector, and recognising the vital role of established and emerging renewable technologies. The established technology is delivering, with BWEA’s recent research showing that onshore wind able to meet nearly 5% of the UK’s electricity needs by 2010.

While onshore wind leads the renewables industry in the present, this is merely the first step in catalysing investor confidence across the entire portfolio of renewable technologies, enabling them to deliver a long term sustainable energy future for the UK.”