UK - Record year for UK wind as industry gathers for annual conference

800 energy professionals gathered in Cardiff at the British Wind Energy Association’s annual conference will today hear the news that 2005 has been a record year for the UK wind industry. Some 19 new wind farms totalling 500 megawatts (MW) will be commissioned this year, including the largest offshore wind farm so far built in UK waters. This new wind power capacity will provide carbon free power for the equivalent of 300,000 homes – or every home in the city of Cardiff. Delegates at the conference will be further encouraged by a major statement of intent on renewable energy for Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Energy, in his keynote address. The Minister will announce consent for Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm on Romney Marsh in Kent, where 26 turbines with a project capacity of up to 78 MW will, once built, generate enough electricity to power at least 32,000 homes – 75% of the homes in the Shepway District Council area. The Energy Minister will also announce the publication of new research into investor attitudes to renewables, saying that it “shows continuing confidence in the renewable sector and in the Government’s commitment to it. I want to leave the industry in no doubt today that this commitment is real and for the long term.”

Marcus Rand, Chief Executive of BWEA, commented: “This announcement is a further strong sign of this Government’s commitment to drive forward the development of wind energy in the UK. Wind has a key role to play in our energy future, which today’s announcement has underlined in bold.”

Strong public support for wind power was also highlighted today with the results of a new NOP opinion poll commissioned by BWEA. The latest in the NOP Wind Tracker, the fourth in the series, shows that 80% of the public believe that wind farms are necessary to help meet current and future energy needs in the UK. This news, combined with the record year for the UK wind industry, is important in light of next year’s energy review. Wind's role in helping to meet the UK’s short to long term climate targets is crucial, given the huge resource and the maturity of the technology.

Growth in wind energy, both on and offshore is essential if the UK is to meet its renewable and climate change objectives, and the industry is making good progress. 2005 has been a record year which also saw the UK break the gigawatt barrier, installing over 1,000 MW of wind, making the UK one of only eight countries around the world to have surpassed this level of capacity. UK wind generation now stands at over 1% of UK electricity supply, and on track for expectations of the sector.

Key amongst this year’s new build is Kentish Flats, the UK’s fourth and biggest large-scale offshore wind farm with a total capacity of 90 MW. Onshore records were also broken on more than one occasion with the commissioning of the largest wind farm, first at Cefn Croes in mid-Wales and subsequently at ScottishPower’s 97 MW Black Law, which is the biggest wind farm on or offshore operating in the UK. A further 970 MW of new projects are already under construction, for expected commissioning in 2006.

For more information please contact:

Alison Hill, Head of Communications BWEA, on 020 7689 1966