24 hour hat trick for UK wind industry

In the time span of 24 hours, over 300 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity have been approved in Scotland and Wales, three times as much as was built during the whole of last year. To date this year, 30 new wind energy projects have been consented, equating to a 75% approval rate, and totalling some 770 MW. This compares with a current total installed capacity of 770 MW, meaning that in one year, as much has been consented as was constructed during the industry's 13 year history. An additional 1,700 MW of projects previously consented, on and offshore, are either under or awaiting construction, meaning that the UK wind industry has a total of 2.5 GW of approved projects, representing some 2.5% of UK electricity supply when built.

BWEA Chief Executive Marcus Rand commented: “The UK wind industry is clearly going from strength to strength. In less than 24 hours we have seen the approval of over 300 megawatts of new wind power, which will bring with it not just clean green electricity for over 200,000 homes but jobs in a new growth industry, all building on the base of strong public support. This is a further powerful signal that the UK is truly embracing the renewables revolution.”

This news came hard on the heels of the launch of a major new campaign from the UK wind industry, called Embrace the Revolution. The campaign is backed by high-profile celebrities such as Chris Tarrant, the designers of the London Eye and Guy Berryman from Coldplay, along with local champions living near Britain's wind farms. To date, some 7000 supporters have signed up to the campaign. A photographic exhibition celebrating the aesthetics of wind turbines will be opened tomorrow, Thursday 7 October, at the London Eye on London's South Bank and will run until 31 October.