The UK wind energy sector passed another milestone this week – reaching six gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity.
Vattenfall’s
Ormonde offshore wind farm, off the coast of
Cumbria, ensured the new threshold was reached, when it achieved 120 megawatts (MW) of operational capacity. It means the
UK now has enough installed capacity of
wind energy to supply over 3.3 million homes.
Unveiling the new record, today, Maria McCaffery, chief executive of
RenewableUK, the wind and marine energy trade association, said reaching 6 GW was a "landmark achievement" for the UK wind industry. It follows another important
record for the sector, when on December 28th, wind power delivered 12.2 per cent of UK electricity demand – an all time high for the industry.
"There’s a great feeling of pride throughout the industry," McCaffery said as she revealed the latest record at the RenewableUK’s Annual Parliamentary Reception on Wednesday night.
UK wind target
Six gigawatts is around a fifth of the 31 GW of installed wind capacity the Government wants to see operational by the end of the decade. With a further 19.5 GW of wind capacity under construction, consented, or in planning, McCaffery said the wind industry was confident it could meet the 2020 target so long as it had "the right level of Government support".
Both the UK and Scottish Governments welcomed today’s figures.
"This is a significant milestone for the wind industry which demonstrates the increasingly important role that renewable energy is playing in the UK’s energy mix," commented Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.
"£750 million of new renewable electricity projects started generating in Scotland over past year, and Scottish wind energy is already making a significant contribution to UK and EU targets," added Scottish Government Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.
Almost 50 per cent of the 6 GW of capacity is being generated by the Scottish wind sector.
The 150 MW Ormonde wind farm, which has been under construction since May 2010, is still undergoing commissioning with eight of the 30 153 metre turbines yet to start turning.
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