UK believes wind power will play role in its expansion of renewable energy

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Apr. 12 -- The UK takes climate change very seriously, Alastair Newton, British Conslutate-General deputy consul-general of investment, New York, told a meeting of the American Wind Energy Association in Chicago late last month.

"Within a few years, the UK will no longer be self-sufficient in energy. . . . Renewables, with wind in the lead, offer the best opportunity for the new capacity we need," said Newton. Renewables development opportunities will be open to US firms, he added.

The UK Renewables Obligation calls on all licensed electricity suppliers in England and Wales to supply a specified and growing proportion of their electric sales from a choice of eligible renewable sources. Scotland also has a Renewables Obligation.

The aim is that 10% of UK's electricity should be supplied from renewable sources by 2010, rising to 15.4% by 2015-16. The obligation is effective until 2027 with a review slated for 2005-06, Newton said.

In a recent second round of offshore wind licensing, the UK government offered options for 15 development sites to 12 consortiums. The round involved potential total capacity of up to 7.2 Gw, or 7% of UK electricity, he said.

The licenses range from 64 Mw proposals to developments of 1.2 Gw or more, he added.

"We hope that about half of the new projects can be delivered by 2010, by which time they should provide well over a quarter of our renewable energy," Newton said.