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BWEA Press Release

Friday 21st November 2003

UK offshore wind power - Welcome to the working reality

North Hoyle officially switched on

The new vision for the UK's future power generation became a reality today with the inauguration of the first large-scale wind farm to be constructed in UK coastal waters.

North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm was officially switched on this morning, starting to generate clean, green electricity for some 50,000 homes across the country, just three months after the first turbine was erected.

Speaking by video-link, Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated the project team, saying:

"Rolling out this first large-scale offshore wind venture is a highly significant step towards achieving Britain's renewables goal. We are on our way to a future that can be transformed by the use of clean forms of energy. I look forward to celebrating further successes with you along the way."

Energy Minister Stephen Timms added his congratulations, reinforcing Government's high expectations of the offshore wind sector in meeting the 2010 target that 10% of electricity supply should come from renewable sources and commenting on the additional opportunities that this industry will create, namely at least 20,000 new jobs in manufacturing, installation and maintenance:

"I want the UK to be a leader in offshore generation, taking advantage of the world beating expertise built up over four decades of offshore activity in the North Sea, and to deliver its industrial potential for the UK economy."

The British Wind Energy Association warmly welcomed the launch, with CEO Marcus Rand saying:

"Today is another landmark for the UK wind industry: the large-scale deployment of wind power offshore is now a working reality for Britain. We have a huge offshore wind resource and a rapidly expanding wind industry ready and willing to harness its power. North Hoyle signals the beginning of a new era for our industry and for our country's energy future. The White Paper set out a vision of how we need to transform our energy system and put renewables such as wind energy at the centre of a journey away from fossil fuels. Today is proof that the renewable future the vast majority of us want to see can become a working reality. We are confident that by the turn of the decade there will be many more offshore wind farms around the UK generating up to half the government's overall 10% renewable target and creating thousands of new jobs."