UK offshore wind hits 1 GW

Greenwise Staff

23rd April 2010

The UK marine renewable energy industry passed a milestone this week, reaching for the first time one gigawatt (GW) of installed offshore wind capacity.

The first GW was achieved thanks to two wind farms in UK waters coming on stream – Robin Rigg in the Solway Firth, operated by EON, and Gunfleet Sands in the Thames Estuary, operated by DONG Energy.

Today, industry trade association RenewableUK described the development as a "landmark" that "cements the UK’s worldwide lead" in the offshore wind sector.

There are now a total of 336 turbines turning at 11 wind farms in British waters. The Robin Rigg wind farm, one of the largest, has a total of 60 turbines, each generating three megawatts of energy and measuring 60-80 metres tall. Other operational wind farms include Barrow Beatrice, Blyth Offshore, Burbo Bank, Kentish Flats, Lynn & Inner, Dowsing, North Hoyle, Rhyl Flats and Scroby Sands.

"The UK offshore wind industry has come of age," said Maria McCaffery, chief executive of RenewableUK. "In the last 10 years we have built a brand new world-leading industry sector that will create long-term value for this country. In the first quarter of this year alone half a billion pounds of private investment has been invested directly into offshore wind in the UK."

4 GW of capacity in construction or with planning consent

RenewableUK said the UK was in a good position to remain the world’s leader in offshore wind with a further 4 GW of capacity already in construction or with planning consent and no less than 40 GW of capacity at various stages of development. The UK's Crown Estate Round Three offshore wind zones, announced in January, alone could lead to the delivery of 25 GW of capacity – a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs – by 2020.

"The opportunity now for this country is to build on this position of global leadership to develop the industrial and service supply chain to provide the equipment and skills that will embed Britain’s competitive advantage in marine renewables," continued McCaffery.

According to the UK Government, the offshore wind industry could create 70,000 'green collar’ jobs between now and 2020 and as many as 220,000 by 2050.

Main parties come out in support of offshore wind

Today, all three main parties, which are campaigning for next month’s election, came out in strong support for the UK offshore wind industry.

"We're creating the right conditions and incentives to maximise the potential of our wind resource so we can create thousands of new jobs and generate our own home-grown, clean, secure energy," said Ed Miliband, Secretary of State at the Department of Energy Climate Change.

Greg Clark, Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, congratulated the offshore wind industry for reaching the 1 GW landmark. "Britain’s offshore wind resources have world-beating potential and can provide us with secure and sustainable energy," he said.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, meanwhile, said he was "delighted to see the first gigawatt of installed wind energy capacity."

UK offshore wind turbines at risk of developing design fault
Political leaders and the offshore wind industry will, however, be hoping that this week’s milestone is not overshadowed by the revelation just a few days ago that a large number of the 336 offshore wind turbines operating in UK waters could potentially develop a design fault.

The fault is to do with the part of the wind turbine that connects to the foundations and has resulted in a slight movement in some turbines. It was first discovered in Shell's Dutch wind farm, Egmond aan Zee. It has also affected three of Dong's offshore wind farms, including Gunfleet Sands.

RenewableUK has reportedly described it as a small fault and not a major safety issue that could affect energy generation.