Latest news

Wind energy industry welcomes CCC report

The wind power industry welcomed the suggestion that wind power could deliver 30 per cent of the UK's electricity supply by 2020.

Following the publication of the Committee on Climate Change's report on how to achieve the 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, the British Wind Energy Association, expressed its support for its contents.

The Building a Low Carbon Economy report called for the massive decarbonisation of the energy generation industry and highlighted the role wind energy and other renewables would have to play to meet the world-leading targets.

Maria McCaffery MBE, BWEA chief executive, said " Renewable energy is not a luxury item. Without a dramatic change in the way we use and produce our energy we will not stop climate change."

Currently there are 2,388 wind turbines operational in the UK, generating a total of 3,173.715 megawatts, but Ms McCaffrey sees the potential for a tenfold increase.

"By 2020 there could be over 30 gigawatts (30,000 megawatts) of wind energy installed in the UK. This report should help to lay to rest the misconceptions and misinformation about the role and viability of wind power over the next decade and beyond," she said.

The government recently announced plans to extend the Renewables Obligation, which incentivises the construction of large scale renewable generation facilities.

Sign up for regular email updates to help you save you save money and energy