12 march 2003
The UK will get more of its power from wind, following the approval of plans to build 60 turbines in the Thames Estuary and off the coast of Cumbria.
The ‘Kentish Flats’ and ‘Barrow’ wind farms, with turbines the height of the London Eye, will bring green electricity to 180,000 homes. Construction is due to start next year.
The announcement builds on last month’s Energy White Paper, which set out plans for a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More investment in wind power and other forms of renewable energy will help to achieve this target.
Energy Minister Brian Wilson said:
"Britain is the windiest country in Europe and these locations provide the shallow waters currently needed for offshore wind technology. As the most commercially viable renewable power source, it is vital that we harness the energy of the wind both on and offshore now."
The benefits of offshore wind are not just environmental, he added:
"It also presents British industry with a number of opportunities for job creation and investment in manufacturing and construction, especially given the many years of experience gained from oil and gas activity in the North Sea."
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