UK - Huge increase in electricity from wind energy

RenewableUK, the country's leading renewable energy trade association, has welcomed the Government's announcement that electricity production from Britain's wind farm plants increased by an impressive 131.1% in April to June, compared to the same period last year. This represents an increase in production of 1.6 TWh - enough to supply 1.3 million homes.

The statistics, just released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, also show that offshore wind turbines generation increased by 146% in the same period. The rises in production are due to increased capacity and much higher wind speeds during the second quarter of the year.

At the same time, electricity produced by gas-fired power stations fell by 21.1%, largely due to higher gas prices. Additional wind production has helped to offset this decrease in gas generation.

RenewableUK's Director of Economics and Markets, Dr Gordon Edge, said: "While the amount of power generated by wind turbines is of course dependent on the strength of the wind at any given time, these figures help to demonstrate the increasing importance of wind farm generation as part of our electricity supply.

"In the face of both rising fossil fuel prices and climate change, it's clear that cutting the amount of gas and coal we burn to make electricity is crucial. Britain is the windiest country in Europe and our fantastic wind resource is already playing a significant part in achieving this goal."

RenewableUK is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with 640 corporate members, RenewableUK is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK. Wind has been the world's fastest-growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change.

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