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Onshore wind energy to power over 3 million homes by 2010

Monday 27 March 2006

New research from BWEA shows onshore wind powering ahead

By 2010, the onshore wind industry will generate 50 per cent more electricity than previously predicted, and will have installed 6,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity, generating almost 5% of UK electricity supply, avoiding up to 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and delivering nearly half of the Government's 2010 renewable energy target, according to a report published by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) today.

Onshore Wind: Powering Ahead, part of BWEA's contribution to the Government's Energy Review consultation, claims to be the most comprehensive and realistic assessment ever undertaken of the UK's onshore wind industry.

The report takes into account potential barriers such as the planning process, decision-making and grid capability, to provide the most realistic assessment of onshore wind's contribution to the energy mix by 2010. The results show that 2006 is a record year for the UK wind industry with 665 MW scheduled for completion by year end. Combined with currently operating capacity and existing consents, a total of 3,000 MW is already confirmed for delivery by 2010. This new research identifies a further 3,000 MW which is forecast to be consented and built by 2010, bringing the total to 6,000 MW.

It further concludes that:

Onshore wind alone can deliver almost half of the Government's 10 per cent renewable energy target by 2010
The electricity generated will power 3.3 million homes, equivalent to the domestic population of London and Glasgow combined
Scotland is expected to make the greatest contribution, benefiting from the best wind resource.

The report goes on to say that by producing electricity from 6,000 MW of onshore wind energy, the UK will:

Displace six million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and avoid 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions

Displace 2.9 billion cubic metres of gas, reducing imports, and avoiding six million tonnes of CO2 emissions
Generate at least £4.2 billion from investment in the wind industry and contributions to business rates, local communities and landowners by 2020.

BWEA is now calling on the UK Government and the devolved administrations to maintain a positive and robust approach to planning policy and to urgently address delays to planning decisions which are spiralling towards three years, particularly in Scotland.

Chris Tomlinson, BWEA's Head of Onshore, said:

"Onshore wind can play a hugely significant role in meeting renewable energy and climate change targets. Our research proves, very clearly, that onshore wind will deliver, bringing major benefits to the economy and the environment while securing our energy supplies. Wind is already firmly established as part of the UK's energy mix and its continued expansion must be fully recognised in the Government's Energy Review."

For more information, including images and interviews, contact:
Alison Hill, BWEA Head of Communications, on 020 7698 1966 / 07956 859 749 / alison@bwea.com

Read the Executive Summary (1MB)

Read the Full Report (2MB)

Notes to editors:

About the report:

The report looks at how much wind energy is confirmed by 2010, from projects already operational, under construction or approved.
Using its database (www.bwea.com/ukwed) and interviews with its members, BWEA then assessed how many megawatts are awaiting local authority planning approval (smaller farms of less than 50 MW) and how many are awaiting Section 36 approval (larger developments of more than 50 MW), and also assessed applications the industry expects to make over the next few years.
BWEA then applied conservative forecasts based on how long it takes to get approval and what percentage of projects are likely to be approved. Approval times currently range from 10 months in England up to 28 months in Northern Ireland. So far large Section 36 applications have enjoyed high approval rates, but BWEA uses a model based on 30 per cent, 50 per cent and 70 per cent approval rates.

About BWEA:

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries.
Formed in 1978, and with over 310 corporate members, BWEA is the largest renewable energy trade association in the UK.
In 2004, BWEA expanded its mission to champion wave and tidal energy and use the Association's experience to guide these technologies along the same path to commercialisation.
BWEA's primary purpose is to champion the UK wind and marine renewables industry.

About Government targets:

Reduce the UK's CO2 emissions by 20 per cent from a 1990 baseline by the year 2010.
Put the UK on a path to reduce CO2 emissions by some 60 per cent by 2050, with 'real progress by 2020', as recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (The Energy White Paper 2003).
As part of the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has also agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
Reduce greenhouse gases by 15-30 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels as proposed by the European Union.
Produce 10 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2010 rising to 15 per cent by 2015, with an aspiration of 20 per cent by 2020.

The UK Government launched its Energy Review consultation on 23rd January 2006. The 12 week consultation sets out the UK's energy challenges and considers all aspects of our energy system including both energy supply and demand. The consultation document "Our Energy Challenge: securing clean, affordable energy for the long term" is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/

Country specific results:

England could contribute over 1770 MW of onshore wind by 2010, 28 per cent of the total UK forecast by 2010, generating sufficient electricity for more than 900,000 homes each year, or sufficient for every home in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool combined, and resulting in investment of around £1.5 billion by 2020, in construction and infrastructure works, in addition to funds for communities and landowners, a significant proportion of which is expected to benefit the English economy.

Wales could contribute 8 per cent of the UK total forecast by 2010, with 505 MW of onshore wind energy generating electricity equivalent to annual needs of 280,000 homes – or one in five Welsh homes. The Wales forecast of 505 MW of onshore wind would generate an average 1.3 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity – one third of the Welsh Assembly target for renewables by 2010 – and result in investment of around £277 million by 2020 in construction and infrastructure works, in addition to funds for communities and landowners, a significant proportion of which is expected to benefit the Welsh economy. BWEA’s report has identified an additional 220 MW which could be delivered by 2010 from the TAN8 Strategic Search Areas recently identified for wind energy developments by the Welsh Assembly. This would increase onshore wind’s contribution to 1.9 TWh, almost half of the Welsh Assembly’s target.

Scotland could contribute 3300 MW over the next five years, generating electricity equivalent to the annual needs of 1.8 million homes or eight out of ten households in Scotland, resulting in investment of over £2.5 billion in construction and infrastructure works, in addition to funds for communities and landowners, a significant proportion of which is expected to benefit the Scottish economy.

Northern Ireland could contribute 543 MW of onshore wind by 2010, 9 per cent of the total UK forecast by 2010, generating sufficient electricity for more than 300,000 homes each year, equivalent to well over one in three households in Northern Ireland, and resulting in investment of around £350 million by 2020, in construction and infrastructure works, in addition to funds for communities and landowners, a significant proportion of which is expected to benefit the economy of Northern Ireland.