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News
Climate Change Review - Wind Industry Response
Concern over lack of additional support for offshore wind
Tuesday 28 March 2006
The wind industry expressed disappointment today as the Government's Climate Change Programme failed to identify the additional support needed to ensure that offshore wind projects, essential to meeting our climate and renewables targets, are delivered on time.
BWEA, as part of its submission to the Climate Review, had called on Government to make additional financial support available for offshore wind projects – of which some 2,000 megawatts (MW) could be built by 2010.
Without this long-term additional support the future of the UK's offshore wind energy programme is in doubt and the significant carbon reducing potential of this key technology may not be fully realised.
The disappointing news follows more positive news from the wind industry on the development of onshore projects. New research released yesterday by BWEA shows that onshore market is due to exceed previous predictions and deliver some 6,000 MW of wind power capacity by 2010 and generate almost 5% of the nation's electricity needs.
Marcus Rand, BWEA's Chief Executive, said:
"We had hoped this climate review would inject an additional boost to offshore wind to ensure it joined onshore as a major provider of new power and carbon savings to hit our 2010 targets. The Government's failure to act in this review must be addressed in the forthcoming Energy Review. Without a vibrant offshore wind sector it is hard to see how the Government's 2010 climate targets can be met and how our 20% renewable aspirations by 2020 can become a working reality."
Notes to editors:
- There have been two calls for bids to develop UK offshore wind sites; Round 1, with a total of 17 sites consisting of 30 turbines each, and the large Round 2, with 15 projects with a combined capacity of 7,200 MW.
- Of the Round 1 projects, three are already operating (North Hoyle, Scroby Sands and Kentish Flats) with a fourth, Barrow, under final commissioning and a further seven with consent and four awaiting determination. In total, Round 1 could realise 1,500 MW of capacity.
- All three Round 2 projects in the Thames Estuary strategic area have been submitted for determination – these include the 1,000 MW London Array, the 500 MW Greater Gabbard and the 300 MW Thanet Offshore Wind Farm. Two projects in the North West strategic area, 750 MW Gwynt y Mor and the 450 MW Walney wind farm have also applied for consent, with work continuing on the remaining 10 sites. (Full details at www.bwea.com/offshore/round1.html and www.bwea.com/offshore/round-2.html)
- The total potential capacity from development offshore is as much as 8,700 MW. This would generate 26.6 TWh, equivalent to the annual electricity needs of 5.6 million homes, or some 7 per cent of total UK electricity supply, and would displace 10 million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and thus avoid 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, or displace 4.9 billion cubic metres of gas, reducing imports and avoiding 10.9 million tonnes of CO2.
- New research from BWEA, Onshore Wind: Powering Ahead, identifies that by 2010, the onshore wind industry could generate 50 per cent more electricity than previously predicted, and could deliver nearly half of the Government’s 2010 renewable energy target. The report indicates that the onshore wind industry could install 6,000 MW of capacity by 2010, generating almost 5 per cent of UK electricity supply, equivalent to the needs of over 3 million homes, and potentially displacing six million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and avoiding 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions or displacing 2.9 billion cubic metres of gas, reducing imports, and avoiding six million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The full report and Executive Summary are available at www.bwea.com/media/news/060327.html
- DEFRA has today published its revised Climate Change Programme, outlining new measures which are projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15-18% by 2010. The Climate Change Programme 2006 can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/index.htm.
- BWEA’s submission to the Climate Change Programme Review can be found at www.bwea.com/pdf/CCPRConsultationResponseBWEA.pdf. BWEA’s response focused on the barriers to delivery of the 2010 10% renewables target, including planning delays, grid reinforcement and additional support for emerging technologies. The CCPR has nothing new to say on any of these subjects, and BWEA will be looking to the current Energy Review to bring forward positive measures on all these fronts.
- BWEA’s fifth annual dedicated offshore conference and exhibition is being held 4-5 April at the QEII Centre, Westminster. Over 300 senior figures from the UK renewables industry will gather to hear expert speakers including Sir David King’s keynote address, while Stephen Sackur, journalist and presenter, will chair a lively debate on the Energy Review, with confirmed panellists Tom Burke (E3G), Professor Ian Fells (Fells Associates & Founding Chair of NaREC), Tony Grayling (IPPR) and Clive Bates (The Environment Agency). The first day of the conference will close with an evening reception to sponsor the launch of new Health & Safety guidance from BWEA, the Wind Turbine Safety Rules. Full details, including online registration and the complete conference programme available at www.bwea.com/offshore/conference.html
- Limited places are available for accredited members of the press: contact Alison Hill, BWEA Head of Communications, on 020 7689 1966 or alison@bwea.com
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