Like the wind

UK wind power reaches milestone amid record growth worldwide

They’ve been celebrating at the British Wind Energy Association. Wind power capacity in the UK has just reached a total operational capacity of two gigawatts. That’s enough to meet the needs of 1.1 million UK households – or 1.5% of the country’s total electricity requirements.

The opening of the Braes of Doune wind farm, on the outskirts of Stirling, was the event that took us past that two-gigawatt milestone. This represents a doubling of capacity in just 20 months – whereas getting the first gigawatt up and running had taken 14 years, from the opening of the UK’s first commercial wind farm at Delabole in Cornwall in 1991.

Now a loftier ambition awaits. Wind power will have to be the main contributor if we’re to reach the government target of getting 10% of our electricity from renewables by 2010. Latest figures reveal that we’re not yet half way there. As trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling said at the Braes of Doune, “wave, tidal and offshore wind power can make a significant contribution in future, but onshore wind energy is delivering capacity here and now.”

Turning to the bigger picture, it looks as if the whole world wants more wind. Overall installed capacity grew by 32% last year to a total of more than 74GW, breaking records for the second year running – despite supply problems getting enough turbines made. Germany has far more installed wind power than any other country – but the US showed the biggest increase. China, meanwhile, is building new wind farms so fast that Li Jungfeng of the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association now expects his country to meet its 2010 target of 5GW before this year is out. – Roger East

11 March 2007

Roger East