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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
Record deployment for onshore wind, but not in England
A record 2,611 MW of new onshore wind generating capacity came online in the UK during 2017 – a 20% increase in capacity from 2016 – but the great majority was installed outside of England, with 1,673 MW in Scotland, 356 MW in Wales and 247 MW in Northern Ireland. So says industry body
RenewableUK, which also suggests that the future growth of the onshore industry, and investment in new infrastructure, is at risk without a change in government policy.
New onshore wind capacity added in 2017 represents an investment value of £5.3bn retained in the UK, says RenewableUK, but 87% of this was spent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trade association says that the UK government’s policy of preventing onshore wind from competing for new power contracts, known as Contracts for Difference, means that the industry faces a steep drop in new investment and new capacity coming online. This is despite onshore wind being the lowest cost option for new power in the UK, according to RenewableUK.
RenewableUK’s Executive Director Emma Pinchbeck said: ‘2017 was a record-breaking year for onshore wind in the UK, with more new capacity coming on-line than ever before. This technology is now powering over 7.6mn homes. Onshore wind is a major success story in the UK’s low carbon economy and is now the cheapest option for new power. [However], by excluding onshore wind from the market, the government is putting at risk billions of pounds of new investment annually across the UK and making it more expensive to meet its own climate change targets.’
The document includes case studies of onshore wind farms developed by ScottishPower Renewables and SSE. SSE’s Director of Generation Development Paul Cooley said: ‘The onshore wind industry has created jobs, supported an indigenous supply chain, stimulated investment in remote areas, reduced carbon emissions and cut costs. There are still opportunities to develop efficient, appropriately sited projects – both new and repowered – to harness Scotland’s excellent wind resource. A supportive policy framework that addresses market and planning challenges is vital to enable onshore wind to continue delivering local and national benefits.’
SSE’s Director of Generation Development Paul Cooley said: ‘The onshore wind industry has created jobs, supported an indigenous
supply chain, stimulated investment in remote areas, reduced carbon emissions and cut costs. There are still opportunities to develop efficient, appropriately sited projects – both new and repowered – to harness Scotland’s excellent wind resource. A supportive policy framework that addresses market and planning challenges is vital to enable onshore wind to continue delivering local and national benefits.’
