The UK already has 303 MW in operation offshore, plus 294 MW currently under construction. There are administrative approval requests totalling 2,484 MW in the waiting list. All the projects put together would be equivalent to 2.5% of the UK's electricity consumption.
The recent trend in approvals sends a "clear sign" from the UK to the rest of the world indicating that the offshore business in the British Islands is open, according to the British Wind Energy Association. This Group has also stated that there are around 8,700 MW more under different stages of development.
After many problems with onshore wind developments in the country due to conservationists and local groups' concerns regarding landscape protection, it seems that the wind power industry is finally finding its way on the sea. Soon we might see the UK as a world leader in this technology, following the lead taken by Denmark years ago.
For additional information:
