U.K. Blows Away Wind Power Record

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- The U.K.'s drive to be the biggest wind energy country in Europe were boosted this week as the country set a new record for electricity generated by windfarms.

The country's electricity grid operator, National Grid, reported that wind turbines supplied 4,131-megawatts (MW) into the grid on one morning during the week - almost 11% of the U.K.'s total. Enough to power more than 3 million homes, the new record surpasses the previous record of 3,800 MW supplied on May 13.

The actual percentage of electricity supplied by wind turbines could be higher since a third of all wind capacity is connected to local electricity networks and not to the grid. Those turbines have a combined generating capacity of 2,200 MW, which is not taken into account in the National Grid's statistics.

RenewableUK's Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery, said: "This record high shows that wind energy is providing a reliable, secure supply of clean electricity to an ever-greater number of British homes and businesses. As our wind energy capacity increases, the need to import expensive fossil fuels starts to diminish. The transition to a low-carbon economy is well underway and harnessing this bountiful, free resource will help us to drive down energy bills for all users in the long term. That's why we're celebrating this milestone in the generation of clean energy for the U.K.."

In related news, planning permission was sought for the first of the massive offshore windfarms that form part of the U.K.'s Round 3 of offshore wind licensing. Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd (MORL), which is 75% owned by EDP Renovaveis (Lisbon, Portugal) and 25% owned by SeaEnergy Renewables (Westhill, Scotland), announced that it has submitted an application for three proposed windfarms in the Moray Firth which will have a combined generating capacity of approximately 1,500 MW. The projects are the Telford, Stevenson and McColl windfarms. For additional information see September 10, 2012 article - First 'Round 3' Offshore Project Seeks Planning in U.K..

Projects green lit under the U.K.'s Round 3 licensing have the potential to generate more than 25,000 MW of electricity, if they all go ahead, and they represent an investment total topping €124 billion ($162.6 billion). The Crown Estate believes the program could meet a quarter of the U.K.'s electricity demand by 2020.

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