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Myth 7. Wind produces little power Fact: A single 1.8-megawatt turbine can produce enough power for 1,000 homes. Wind power already provides enough electricity to supply 1.2 million British homes every year. Offshore wind farms like the London Array (1,000MW) are planned on a scale that will generate enough power to supply the electricity needs for 750,000 homes (equivalent to a quarter of Greater London's households or every home in Kent and East Sussex). And in 30 years of monitoring there have been no days when the wind has not blown throughout the UK., meaning that our wind farms generate power for approximately 85 per cent of the time. According to the DTI, renewable energy technologies could cost effectively provide one third of UK electricity requirements by 2025. The UK is the windiest country in Europe, but in 2001 only 0.3 per cent of our electricity supply came from wind power – less than 500 megawatts (MW). According to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, the UK has 40 per cent of Europe’s total wind energy. But we are not taking full advantage of this potential, unlike Germany for example, which already had more than ten times our current wind farm capacity - despite the fact that our winda are stronger and more constant than theirs. Germany added 2,650MW of wind power capacity during 2001, giving a total of 8,750MW (equivalent to 3.5 per cent of their electricity consumption). Germany also plans a massive increase over the next 25 years, with a target of one quarter of present electricity needs coming from wind power. Spain is another rapidly growing wind energy market (second fastest in 2001), with a total of over 3,340 MW of installed capacity and has built over five times more than we have in just a few years. In Denmark 18 per cent of electricity already comes from wind and this is set to increase. Sources: 1. British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), 01.03.2007. |
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