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BWEA Press Release

Tuesday 17th July 2005

Industry welcomes consent for UK's largest wind farm

New database demonstrates the power of the wind

Today's announcement of the decision to grant planning permission to what will be the largest onshore wind farm in the UK has been warmly welcomed by the industry association, BWEA. The Crystal Rig extension will see a further 52 turbines totalling up to 164 megawatts (MW) join the existing wind farm in the Scottish Borders.

Speaking as he announced the consent, Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson said:

"The extension at Crystal Rig is good news for our renewables sector, and followed a lengthy consultation process designed to ensure that it does not come at an unacceptable cost to the surrounding environment. Today's announcement will not only deliver clear environmental benefits, cutting carbon emissions and combating climate change, but is also a step towards securing Scotland's position as a world leader in the renewable energy technology sector."

At 164 MW, Crystal Rig tops the list of onshore wind farms in the UK, making it the largest and most powerful development in the country. This is one of the results available from a new product, launched today by the industry association.

UKWED – the UK Wind Energy Database – is the definitive list of all wind energy projects, whether already powering homes, under construction, consented or in planning. BWEA's database is the result of over a year of development, and will allow the industry body, its members and the public alike to have up to the minute statistical analyses of the progress of the sector.

Today's approval comes in a record year of growth and consents, says the industry association. Chief Executive Marcus Rand commented:

"Today's announcement takes us an important step closer to meeting our 2010 renewable and climate change targets. The wind industry in the UK has now firmly arrived and is growing at a record rate. This year alone, consents for over 500 MW have been awarded, and more than 800 MW of new wind projects, both on and offshore, are under construction. In 2006, the industry is set to grow at an even faster rate as we become the world leader in offshore wind development."

The recent progress in the sector was cause for celebration in June when the UK achieved the landmark of over 1000 MW of wind capacity installed (see press release). Breaking the gigawatt barrier was a significant step for the UK's dynamic wind industry, making it one of only eight countries around the world to have done so, and firmly demonstrating that wind power in the UK is now mainstream.

Notes:

• Crystal Rig Wind Farm was developed by Fred Olsen Renewables Limited, through its agent Natural Power Consultants who are currently developing a number of wind farm sites in Scotland. The existing Crystal Rig wind farm comprises 25 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 62.5 megawatts of which 20 turbines with a capacity of 50 megawatts are presently constructed, and lies in the Lammermuir Hills south of Dunbar. The extension is for a 52 turbine development with a generation capacity of up to 164 megawatts, dependent on final turbine choice. The consent granted provides that 23 of the turbines would lie within the Scottish Borders Council area while the remaining 29 will lie within the East Lothian Council area.
• UKWED is the definitive wind energy database, developed and maintained by the industry association BWEA. www.bwea.com will now hold statistical information on projects built, under construction, consented and currently in the planning system - all presented in a user friendly format. This will be accompanied by short progress reports each quarter for onshore and offshore developments. The website will also contain four tables of specific data relating to individual projects in the same categories of development. Finally, a map facility is being provided to identify the geographical whereabouts of projects either operating or under construction. BWEA members will have additional access via the members area of the website to the database itself containing detailed information about every project that has entered the planning system. For a statistical overview of wind energy activity see www.bwea.com/statistics.
• BWEA is the UK's leading renewable energy association, with over 325 companies in membership, representing a range of interests and skills in both the wind and emerging marine renewables industries. BWEA represents these industries at home and aboard, to Government, regional bodies and local authorities throughout the UK and to the business community, the media and the public. BWEA co-ordinates statistics and intelligence on every aspect of the sector to promote the use of wind power and marine renewables in and around the UK.