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BWEA Press Release

Tuesday 10th May 2005

UK's largest wind farm switches on in a record year for wind industry

The newest and most powerful wind farm in the UK is today officially switched on in what is proving to be a record year for the UK wind industry.

The opening today of Rothes wind farm in Scotland by Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson is the 8th commissioning of new wind projects this year. The 22 turbine 50.6 megawatt (MW) project brings the total UK wind power portfolio to 979 megawatts from 1234 turbines, representing some 0.7% of total UK electricity supply.

This figure is set to rise to 1.5% of supply by the end of 2005 as other projects currently under construction are commissioned, including the third of the UK's large-scale offshore wind farms, Kentish Flats, off the coast of Kent.

2005 is a record year for wind energy, confirms a new survery by the industry association, BWEA. A total of 18 new wind farms will be officially commissioned this year alone, representing some 500 megawatts of capacity and this success is echoed in new wind farms receiving consent. 11 new projects with a total of 218.3 MW have been approved so far this year. With an additional 6,180 MW already in the planning system, representing some 6% of UK electricity supply, the wind industry is well on track to meeting expectations of the sector, widely predicted to be the technology that will meet the bulk of the Government's targets for renewables by 2010.

BWEA CEO Marcus Rand commented:

"The wind industry in the UK is now expanding at a record rate. This year alone it will be commissioning as much new capacity as was achieved in the whole of the nineties. In 2006, the industry is set to grow at an even faster rate as we become the world leader in offshore wind development.

Wind projects representing some 10% of the UK's electricity needs from on and offshore projects are either being commissioned, are awaiting planning determination or are due to enter the planning system over the next 12 months. This represents an investment potential of some £10 billion to create thousands of new jobs as well as helping in our fight against climate change."

For more information on progress in the UK wind industry, contact Chris Tomlinson t 020 7689 1963 / e chris@bwea.com

Notes to Editors

1. The Rothes wind farm comprises twenty two turbines, situated at Cairn Uish, in Moray, 13km south west of Elgin and 10km west of Rothes and was developed by Fred Olsen Renewables Ltd., through its agent Natural Power Consultants. See http://www.naturalpower.com for further details.

2. For a list of all operating UK wind projects, see http://www.bwea.com/map. A list and map of projects due for commissioning in 2005 can be found at http://www.bwea.com/map/2005.html.

3. The 11 consented projects are:

Windfarm	Turbines	MW
Bessy Bel 2	9	11.7
Dalswinton, Pennyland Moor	16	48
Drummuir	21	42
Findhorn Foundation	3	0.9
Hafoty Ucha 3a	1	0.85
High Hedley 2	4	5.2
Millenium	16	48
Nissan Motors Plant	7	5.25
Power Factory	8	10.4
Walkway, High Swainston	7	21
Wether Hill	14	25

4. Record year for UK wind industry

There are currently 18 wind energy projects under construction and due 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 600 megawatts (MW) to the UK's wind power portfolio, increasing wind power's contribution to the UK electricity portfolio to some 1.5% of total supply. Approved projects awaiting construction represent an additional 2% of supply waiting in the wings. A further 6,180 MW of potential wind capacity is currently progressing through the planning system, which if approved, represents and additional 6% of UK electricity supply.

5. BWEA is the professional association championing the UK wind and marine renewables industry representing 325 companies active in the sector.

Click on the links below to see photos of Rothes: