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News

BWEA statement on Whinash decision

2nd March 2006

BWEA, the UK's leading renewable energy association, has today expressed its disappointment with the announcement by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight to refuse permission for a wind farm on common land near Whinash, near Tebay in Cumbria. The Whinash wind farm could have potentially met one-third of the renewables target for the Cumbrian region alone, providing clean green electricity for over 45,000 homes and displacing the emission of up to 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

BWEA's Chief Executive Marcus Rand commented:

"While this is clearly disappointing news it is still only one project and many more onshore wind projects are being built throughout the UK. BWEA is confident that onshore wind energy will remain the mainstay of renewable energy delivery over the coming years. This year a record number of onshore wind projects will be built, totalling over 600 MW of capacity and we believe at least 5% of the nation's power will be met from onshore wind projects by 2010."

The UK wind industry is in an unprecedented period of growth which will see it contribute a significant proportion of the Government's 10% target for renewables by 2010, from projects on and offshore. Wind power is the most commercial of the renewable energy technologies available to help this country meet its challenging targets on climate change and increasing energy security, a challenge being actively met by the UK wind industry.

• BWEA is the UK's leading renewable energy association, representing over 300 companies active in the sector. With 27 years experience, BWEA is leading the UK debate on wind energy and marine renewables. BWEA's specialist team provides essential information and support, and lobbies on behalf of its members on key challenges facing these dynamic industries.
• The Whinash wind farm application consists of 27 turbines, up to 81 MW capacity, near Tebay in Cumbria. The project was originally submitted for planning under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 in October 2003 and a Public Inquiry on the application closed in April 2005. The project was developed by RDC for Falck Renewables. This is the second refusal for a wind farm under s36: full details of the decision can be found at http://www.wired-gov.net/EDP8203R7W/WGArticle.aspx?WCI=htmArticleView&WCU=ARTCL_PKEY%3d37568%2cALERT_TYPE%3d15
• A total of 726 MW of wind energy capacity is currently under construction, with 636 MW onshore and 90 MW offshore wind energy guaranteed for delivery in 2006.
• A total of 446 megawatts (MW) of wind energy capacity were installed in the UK in 2005, including 356 MW onshore and 90 MW offshore wind energy, doubling the country's generating capacity. The UK was also the only country to install an offshore wind farm in both 2005 and 2004.
• In June 2005, the UK became one of only eight countries around the world to have installed over 1,000 MW or 1 gigawatt (GW) of wind energy capacity, 14 years after the UK's first commercial wind farm was commissioned - the next GW will be delivered within the next 14 months.
• Full details of UK wind power projects can be found at www.bwea.com/ukwed, including lists and maps of all projects operational, under construction and in planning.