UK: Wind power to drive green revolution

Until a few months ago it was thought impossible for Britain to approach generating 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020 as required by the EU. But next week the government will lay out an ambitious blueprint for what it says is an achievable energy revolution. It will affect everyone in Britain and raise electricity costs, the government concedes, but may also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide long-term energy security.
As expected, wind power is the key to this “green industrial revolution”. The government accepts that to reach the 15% renewable energy target, nearly 35% of all UK electricity will have to be from renewable sources by 2020 – up from less than 5% today.

Over the next 12 years, under the plan, there will be six times more onshore wind turbines as there are now and a series of vast offshore windfarms built in the equivalent of a new North Sea oil rush.

The dash for low-carbon energy will transform upland areas of Britain: 45% of the wind electricity will eventually come from Scotland, 18% from Wales, 10% from Northern Ireland and the rest from England. But the consultation paper, obtained by the Guardian, accepts the government may miss its ambitious wind targets. At present there are only three major manufacturers in the world able to make the large turbines needed offshore. In addition, the paper says, there are not enough vessels, cable suppliers, or skilled workers to set up the new wind farms.

Guardian