BWEA - 12/21/06

Wind energy in the UK has broken all records in 2006, making this the most productive and successful year for the sector since the country’s first commercial wind farm started generating 15 years ago.

A record breaking 630 new megawatts (MW) of wind energy have already been commissioned in 2006: an increase of 50% on performance of 2005, which in turn saw a 100% increase on capacity commissioned in 2004.

 

The countdown has now begun to the UK’s second gigawatt of installed capacity – only 18 months after commissioning its first - firmly positioning the wind industry as a key player in the UK energy market and the UK wind industry in the top ten players globally.

 

Wind energy is officially the fastest growing energy source world wide, with an average annual growth rate of 23% over the last 15 years. And here in the UK, home to some of the best winds in the world, this trend is very evident.

 

With a further 625 MW currently under construction, and consents awarded for a further 2120 MW, the UK wind sector is undoubtedly leading the way in providing clean new generation, and meeting Government targets for securing future energy supplies and tackling climate change.

 

The renewables revolution firmly underway means that a record number of homes will be powered by the wind this Christmas: wind turbines in the UK generate sufficient electricity to meet the needs of over a million households – or to boil enough water for two billion cups of tea to wash down the Christmas meal.

Notes:

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the UK’s leading renewable energy association, with over 300 company members. Formed 28 years ago, BWEA is at the forefront of the development of the UK wind industry, representing the sector to Government, business, media and the public. It expanded its mission two years ago to champion the emerging technologies of wave and tidal stream power generation.

Wind energy has now started a major expansion in the UK and will be the single greatest contributor to the Government’s 10% 2010 renewable energy target and 20% 2020 renewable aspiration. Together, wind, wave and tidal power can supply 21% of our electricity by 2020, resulting in over £16bn of investment in UK plc. See www.bwea.com/energyreview

A record number of wind farms were commissioned in 2006, providing 1 offshore and 21 onshore wind projects around the UK, with a total of 300 wind turbines and 630.80 megawatts of power.

 

Growth year-on-year has steadily grown, with capacity in 2005 at 19 wind farms, 258 turbines and 446.81 megawatts and in 2004 the total was 12 windfarms, 147 turbines and 240.68 megawatts. For further industry statistics please visit our UK Wind Energy Database, at: www.bwea.com/ukwed

 

This year 33 onshore windfarms were approved, with a total of 425 wind turbines and 821.15 MW. 2 further projects approved were offshore, to provide a total of 270 wind turbines and 1,300.00 MW.

 

Notable new wind farms built in 2006, include Hadyard Hill, South Ayrshire, owned and operated by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), the first wind farm in the UK to generate over 100 megawatts (MW) of power and Barrow, off the coast of Cumbria - the UK’s only offshore wind farm, which was commissioned in July 2006 for Centrica and operates 30 x 3 MW turbines – enough to power well over 50,000 homes!

 

The UK is at the forefront of the offshore wind industry, with potentially 8,700 megawatts of projects at various stages of development, and is set to overtake Denmark as the leader in installed offshore wind generating capacity in 2008.