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News

BWEA Statement on Prime Minister's CBI Speech

Wednesday 17th May 2006

BWEA welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement last night of a 'big push' on renewables as a result of the Energy Review. BWEA's Energy Review submission shows that significant contributions are possible from renewables, identifying that 21% of UK electricity supplies can be generated from the renewable energy sources of wind, wave and tidal alone by 2020. While a 'step change' in delivering energy efficiency is clearly essential, we also require diverse energy supplies from indigenous resources to deliver a clean, green secure energy future for Britain.

Renewable energy is delivering an increasing amount of power at a rapid rate, with onshore wind energy leading the way: BWEA expects onshore to deliver nearly 5% of our electricity supplies by 2010. Economically attractive, technologically advanced and readily deployed, onshore wind energy is the catalyst to a attracting a vibrant and sustainable renewables industry across a wider portfolio of technologies.

Whatever the Government decides from the Energy Review, it is important that onshore wind is able to maintain its momentum at the forefront of renewable energy delivery. It is also critical to provide a new policy impetus to allow offshore wind to deliver on a massive scale, and to create the right additional support mechanisms for wave and tidal to allow the UK to lead the world in these emerging technologies. Much of Government's focus in the Energy Review has been on nuclear: however, if the Government's objectives for climate change and security of supply are to be met, it is clear that equal, if not higher, priority must be given to driving forward the delivery of renewable technologies. Whether the Review sets ambitious targets for renewable generation, followed up with firm policy measures, will be a key test of Government's determination to set the UK on a course to being a leading low-carbon economy by 2050.

For more information contact Dr. Gordon Edge, Head of Offshore, BWEA on 07816 830180 or Mari Martiskainen, Communications & Small Wind Officer on 020 7689 1935 or mari@bwea.com.

BWEA's full submission to the Energy Review, including all the research undertaken by the Association can be found at www.bwea.com/energyreview.

Notes to editors:

About BWEA's submission to the Energy Review:

• The key findings of BWEA's work for the Energy Review are that wind energy, on and offshore, and wave and tidal power will be providing the bulk of the UK's renewable electricity growth in the period to 2020, with potential installed capacities of:
  • 12,500 MW of onshore wind
  • 11,500 MW of offshore wind
  • 3,000 MW of marine renewables
  • up to 1,200 MW from micro and mini wind turbines
• This level of installed capacity would generate an annual average of 78 TWh of electricity, equivalent to the needs of two in three UK homes, and if displacing gas-fired electricity generation would reduce gas imports by 14.6 billion cubic metres annually, equivalent to 324 tanker shipments of Liquefied Natural Gas, and avoid the emission of 32 million tonnes of CO2.
• The installation of 12,500 MW of onshore wind and 11,500 MW of offshore wind would result in investment of over £16 billion in the UK in construction and infrastructure works, including £740 million in business rates, £797 million in landowner income (including £212 million to the Crown Estate) and some £195 million in community income.
• While onshore wind is leading the way in delivery of renewables capacity, with some 6,000 MW able to be installed by 2010, equivalent to almost 5% of UK electricity supply and representing almost half of the Government's targets on renewables for that year, progress offshore is not as rapid as had been hoped, with a maximum of 2,000 MW possible by 2010. However, with a new policy impetus, offshore wind can deliver up to 8,000 MW by 2015, equivalent to 6% of projected electricity supply.
• The renewable contribution of 20% in 2020 is deliverable, but the key to unlocking this potential is getting the financial mechanism right for emerging as well as existing lower-cost renewables. If no extra resources are provided for newer technologies or the RO not evolved to direct more resources to them, offshore wind will not be delivered in the quantities required to establish the sector and attract investment in the supply chain that will bring costs down. Should offshore wind not deliver, then it will be difficult for investors to show confidence in Government providing the right framework for the nascent technologies of wave and tidal stream.

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.