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Wind industry welcomes EU's green energy revolutionJanuary 24, 2008Renewables body calls on Govt to act now to deliver 2020 targets on time BWEA, the body representing the UK's wind, wave & tidal industries today welcomed the EU Commission's announcement that Britain should supply 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive said "This is a revolution for the UK's energy supply. Over half this target will have to be delivered by renewable electricity, and the vast majority of that will be wind power. It is achievable but now industry and Government have to work together to make it happen." At 2% Britain has the third lowest supply of renewable energy in Europe but some of the continent's richest resources. Because of the low starting base for renewables in heat and fuel the bulk of Britain's contribution will have to come from electricity. That will mean that between 30-40% of our electricity will have to come from renewable energy by 2020. Overall, BWEA estimates that in order to reach the 15% target, 8% of the UK's power supply will have to be provided by electricity (including wind, wave, tidal, biomass and hydro), while heating will provide 3%- 4% and fuel just 3%. Wind industry analysts expect a major expansion in supply over the next decade. Although currently only 2.5GW of the UK's electricity generating capacity is wind (1.5% of electrical energy supply), another 6GW is approved and waiting to be built or is under construction, while a further 9.5GW is waiting to be approved in planning. Altogether there are 16GW of wind schemes already in the system. BWEA forecasts that by 2020, 13GW of electricity (10% of supply) should come from onshore wind and 20GW (17%) from offshore wind. While other sources such as wave & tidal, hydro and biomass will provide an additional 8-10%. McCaffery said "Wind energy is the next North Sea Oil. Britain could be a world leader in renewable energy if we have the will to make this vision a reality". She added "In order to reach the new target there will need to be a step change in government policy to harness the UK's potential." Government has already announced a process to award up to 33GW of sites for offshore wind farms, combined with the new EU target this will encourage a new wave of investment in the UK's wind sector. However, Government action is needed to kickstart it. Specifically, Government needs to:
McCaffery said "Whether it is meeting these new targets or filling the emerging energy gap, the UK urgently needs the new clean, affordable domestic energy that the wind, wave and tidal sector can provide". The British Wind Energy Association is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with over 360 corporate members, BWEA is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK. Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change Overall, 16GW of wind power schemes are already in development within the system:
By 2020 nearly 1/3 of the UK's domestic electricity generation will have been decommissioned. By 2016, 7GW of the current 11GW of UK nuclear capacity will already have been retired. By 2023 there will be just one nuclear power station operating: Sizewell B - generating just over a single GW of electricity. The current ageing generation of large fossil fuelled stations will have to comply with the tough new emission standards of the EU's Large Combustion Plants Directive by 2015. This will mean that over 10GW of capacity will definitely be retired by 2015 and up to a further 15GW will either close or be severely restricted in use. For more information please contact:
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