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News

Onshore wind in Scotland

Powering 8 out of 10 Scottish households by 2010

Monday 27 March 2006

By 2010, across the UK as a whole, the onshore wind industry could generate 50 per cent more electricity than previously predicted, expecting to install 6,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity, generating almost 5 per cent of UK electricity supply, avoiding up to 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide 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 (27 March 2006).

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 findings show that onshore wind energy is making excellent progress across the UK. Scotland, with the best wind resource in Europe, is particularly well placed to benefit. The study shows that the amount of wind energy in Scotland could rise from 688 MW to 3300 MW over the next five years, generating electricity equivalent to the annual needs of 1.8 million homes, and 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.

However, the study also shows that future progress is critically dependent upon two key issues: a more efficient and timely planning process, and progress with reinforcement of the grid.

Chris Tomlinson, BWEA’s Head of Onshore, said: “Onshore wind has a critical role to play if the UK is to meet its renewable energy and climate change targets. This sector will bring major benefits to the environment while securing our energy supplies. However, if these benefits are to be fully realised then it is essential that targeted action is taken now to deal with the three year delays suffered in the planning process and to ensure that the upgrade of the grid infrastructure is completed as a top priority.”

Maf Smith, Scottish Renewables CEO, added: “It is important that we recognise that onshore wind is the catalyst which is required to stimulate the growth of all renewable industries in Scotland. Onshore wind’s growth is currently driving the need to upgrade the grid system which in turn is going to be essential if marine renewables such as wave power are to proceed, a sector which could create 7,000 jobs for Scotland.

“The opportunity is here for the taking, and if the Scottish Executive chooses to bring forward early delivery of their 2020 renewable energy target, a great deal can be achieved environmentally and economically – making Scotland a world leader in all forms of renewable energy.”

BWEA’s report goes on to say that producing electricity from 3300 MW of onshore wind in Scotland would:

• displace over three million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and avoid more than seven million tonnes of CO2 emissions

or

• displace 1.6 billion cubic metres of gas, reducing imports and avoiding over three million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

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 wind energy in Scotland:

• There are already 32 onshore wind projects totalling 688 MW generating in Scotland, representing 55 per cent of the UK’s current onshore wind power portfolio and generating 1.8 terawatt hours (TWh) or 5 per cent of demand for electricity in Scotland.
• A further 12 projects totalling 398 MW are under construction and scheduled for completion in 2006: list available on request.
• New wind farms identified for completion by 2010 will bring Scotland’s total to 3397 MW – around half of the UK’s total forecast build by 2010.
• The 2010 forecast build would generate an average annual 9 TWh, equivalent to the electricity needs of 1.89 million homes, over 80 per cent of domestic demand.
• The Scottish Executive has set a domestic target that 18 per cent of supply will come from renewables by 2010, rising to 40 per cent by 2020.
• Economic benefits accruing from wind energy development in Scotland by 2020 include £229 million in landowner income and £76 million in payments to local communities.

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 leading 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 UK 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/