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News

Thursday 16th June 2005

UK wind breaks gigawatt barrier

Over half a million homes powered by wind

The UK wind energy industry has now installed over 1000 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity - making it one of only 8 countries in the world to have surpassed this figure.

The official opening today of the most powerful wind farm in the UK to date, the 39 turbine 58.5 MW Cefn Croes wind farm in Ceredigion in Wales, brings the total to 1037.7 MW from 1273 turbines, which together generate sufficient electricity to meet the needs of well over half a million households – or a fifth of homes in greater London.

BWEA CEO Marcus Rand commenting on this industry landmark stated:

"Wind energy in the UK has now firmly arrived. The industry is experiencing record growth and will continue to grow both on and offshore over the coming years as it plays its key role in helping to meet the Government's climate and renewable targets.

We anticipate a further six gigawatts of new wind projects will be up and running in the UK by the end of 2010, split evenly between on and offshore developments. Achieving this objective will deliver energy security, environmental and industrial benefits for the UK."

Breaking the gigawatt barrier comes in a record year of growth for the UK wind industry, with a total of 18 new wind projects totalling some 500 MW of capacity expected to be officially commissioned by year end, taking UK wind generation to over 1% of UK electricity supply, and on track for expectations of the sector. The UK wind industry is projected to meet some three quarters of the Government's target for renewables by 2010, representing an investment of £7bn into the sector, according to a survey carried out by the British Wind Energy Association.

The news that wind broke the gigawatt barrier coincides with the release of a new opinion poll carried out as part of BWEA's Embrace the Revolution campaign, which was launched in Wales today. The research shows that an overwhelming majority of people in Wales - three quarters - agree that wind farms are necessary to help meet the country's current and future energy needs.

Notes to Editors

• BWEA is the professional association championing the UK wind and marine renewables industry, representing 325 companies active in the sector.
• Embrace the Revolution is a campaign from the British Wind Energy Association to unite those in favour of wind energy and challenge the myths that wind farms are unpopular. See www.embracewind.com/wales for information on today's new opinion poll.
• Global wind energy capacity statistics:

  Country	MW Installed
  Germany	16,629
  Spain	8,263
  US	6,740
  Denmark	3,117
  India	3,000
  Italy	1,125
  Netherlands	1,078
  UK	1,037

  
  Source: Global Wind Energy Council, www.gwec.net, as at 6 March 2005
• The UK's total wind capacity generates 2.78 TWh, equivalent to 0.8% of total UK electricity supply, or sufficient for the annual electricity needs of 580,000 households.
• Cefn Croes was officially opened today by Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport and Energy Minister for Wales. The most powerful wind farm to be commissioned to date in the UK, the 39 turbine 58.5 megawatt project cost £50 million to develop and is owned by Falck Renewables Limited, a leading European developer of wind projects and a subsidiary of the Falck Group based in Milan. It is operated by Cambrian Wind Energy, a subsidiary of Falck Renewables, and was developed by the Renewable Development Company (RDC). Cefn Croes will supply power for 42,000 homes in Wales each year - more than all the households in nearby Aberystwyth. For further information contact Wynford Emanuel or Rachael Mullins at Warwick Emanuel on 02920 555 505.

Record year for UK wind industry

There are 18 wind energy projects either completed of under construction and scheduled for commissioning by end 2005. These include the third of the UK's large-scale offshore wind farms, Kentish Flats, off the coast of Kent.

Once completed, these will add a further 500 megawatts (MW) to the UK's wind power portfolio, increasing wind power's contribution to the UK electricity portfolio to over 1% of total supply.

Approved projects awaiting construction represent an additional 2% of supply waiting in the wings, with potentially a further 6% of supply represented by projects currently progressing through planning.

See www.bwea.com/media/news/record2004.html for further details