Dec 11 - The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

North Sea wind farms could be powering homes across the country by 2020, after the Government unveiled a new focus on offshore turbines.

The commitment to offshore wind power could bring thousands of jobs to the region, as leading renewable energy companies prepare to bid for bigger contracts.

Plans to meet EU energy commitments would transform the North-East coastline, with an average of two huge turbines every mile.

Up to 7,000 turbines could be installed nationwide to boost wind produced energy 60-fold by 2020.

Steve Wilson, director of wind and marine at the New and Renewable Energy Centre, said the Government backing would lead to big changes in the industry.

"It's fantastic news really. Right now the industry is not big enough to support such ambitions but we are already hearing from big oil and gas companies who are saying that off the back of this they will be investing in offshore technology.

"And we in the North-East are in a great position. We have a good reputation for big engineering projects, all the skills needed are right here."

American energy firm Clipper Windpower is already preparing to develop a new generation of offshore wind turbines in the North- East.

Peter Tavner, Durham University professor of renewable energy, said developments such as these could easily bring in thousands of jobs to the region.

He added: "These offshore turbines could meet the energy commitments, and they will require maintenance and contract work which the North-East can benefit from .

"Obviously we have to be careful of the onshore impact. We have a beautiful coastline and people will not want these turbines so close they ruin that, but they are a very real solution. We are an island nation, we have a lot wind and we are ideally placed to meet these energy challenges."

Business Secretary John Hutton admitted the "step change" would alter the face of the waters around the country.

"It is going to change our coastline, yes for sure. There is no way of making the shift to low carbon technology without making a change and that change being visible to people.

"We've got a choice as a country whether we rise to the challenge or stick our head in the sand and hope it goes away. It is not going to go away."

The new turbines could have a knock-on effect inland, with many hoping support services could be located in Newcastle or North Tyneside and Newcastle councillor Henri Murison called on the Liberal Democrat council to act now.

"We know the region has a strong case for leading the way on renewable energy and we'd like to see Newcastle get involved from an early stage."

(c) 2007 The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.