UK wants offshore wind farms focused, costs cut
Date: 25-Nov-02
Country: UK
Author: Margaret Orgill
Launching a consultation on the government's new offshore wind strategy, Energy Minister Brian Wilson said the proposals should allow firms to build much bigger schemes than those approved in the first round of offshore projects last year.
"The new framework will enable developers to think big. I expect much larger proposals to come forward than the 30 turbine (75 megawatt) projects leased in the first round," Wilson said in a statement.
Powergen has said it is looking at plans for a 500 megawatt project in the outer Thames Estuary near London, one of the areas pinpointed by the government with best potential for wind power.
The two other zones selected are the Greater Wash area off Lincolnshire in eastern England and the coastline from the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border to North Wales.
"As the wind farms will be closer together, it means developers can share their resources and help bring down the cost of this abundant source of energy," Wilson said.
Companies say these three areas are the most suitable as they have shallow sandy seabeds which make installing turbines easier as well as good grid connections.
In Scotland, building offshore wind farms is more expensive because of its rocky seabed and more limited grid links.
Although offshore wind is more expensive to tap than onshore, local resistance to the noise and the sight of tall land-based turbines has made it attractive to energy companies and the government.
Last year Britain granted the first licences to build offshore wind farms at 13 sites which will involve an investment of 1.6 billion pounds ($2.53 billion) and supply about one percent of the UK's power needs by 2004-2005.
The government sees offshore wind power as key to its strategy to increase the contribution of renewable energy to 10 percent of electricity supplies by 2010 from just under three percent currently.
The proposals were welcomed by the wind power industry and environmentalists who say the wind blowing around Britain's shores could supply the island's electricity needs three times over.
"It's fantastic news. The government is recognising the potential for a huge amount of energy from offshore wind," Matthew Spencer, campaign director for Greenpeace, said.
Wilson said strategic environmental assessments of the three areas will be carried out before the Crown Estate, which manages Britain's territorial waters, grants the next round of site licences which is expected in April 2003.
New exploration licences will also be granted for sites beyond Britain's 12 mile territorial limit but this could require new legislation.
