Wind-Power Capacity Reaches Record Levels Across UK in 2004

Nov 23 - Scotsman, The

NEARLY three times as much wind-power capacity has been installed across the UK in 2004 compared to 2003, spelling a record year for the rapidly expanding and increasingly controversial industry.

But for those protesting against what they see as the continuing industrialisation of the British landscape via the erection of huge turbines, things will undoubtedly get worse.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is predicting a further GBP 7 billion of investment in harnessing the wind's energy by 2010, and much of that will inevitably be in Scotland, which has the best wind resources in Europe.

As several thousand delegates gather in London for Europe's largest-ever wind-power conference, the BWEA released figures showing that ten new wind projects have begun generating electricity this year, totalling 240 megawatts (MW) of new capacity, with two more to be commissioned before the end of the year.

Presently, across the UK, there are currently 18 wind projects under construction, totalling more than 600 MW. This new capacity is all scheduled to come on-line in 2005. A further 33 new wind farms were approved across the UK through the planning system, totalling some 800MW capacity. In addition, there are a further 94 on-shore projects going through the planning process across the UK, representing 4,770MW of capacity, which is equal to approximately 5 per cent of the whole of the UK's electricity needs.

Marcus Rand, the chief executive of the BWEA, said: "We need to ensure that the necessary support is maintained and enhanced to turn this optimism and our onshore and offshore predictions into firm realities.

"Much rests on the success of wind, not least the meeting of our climate and renewable targets and the improvement of our nation's overall energy security."

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