Home > Press releases > Plans for major offshore wind farm welcomed
7 April 2008
Commenting on today's (Monday 7 April) announcement by EON that it is submitting a planning application for one of the UK's biggest offshore wind farms, Friends of the Earths Energy Campaigner, Nick Rau said:
“We are delighted E.ON is pushing forward with plans for a new wind farm off the Yorkshire Coast. The Humber Gateway wind farm will help tap into the abundant clean green energy resources we have in the UK.”
“Offshore wind has a key role in the fight against climate change and helping us switch to a low-carbon economy. Projects like this are a springboard to a massive expansion of offshore wind energy. The Government must do more to develop this huge potential and ensure that Britain reaps the massive economic and environmental benefits of becoming a world leader in harvesting the wind.”
The Government has announced its aspiration for massive growth in offshore wind power, to generate as much as 25% of our electricity needs by 2020. But the Government must give more support for renewables if we are to meet our targets. Friends of the Earth is calling on Ministers to:
Give renewable generators priority over conventional generation when connecting and delivering power to the grid.
Reform energy industry regulator OFGEM, to make tackling climate change a clear and central priority for all its work.
The MOD has objected to the wind farm proposal on the grounds that it may cause radar interference. Friends of the Earth believes that if the Government is serious about tackling climate change it should be working across departments to develop and support technological solutions to the problem.
The EU has committed itself to ensuring that 20 per cent of all EU energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. Member states will be allocated different targets to ensure that this is achieved. The EU has told the UK that its provisional target is that 15 per cent of all energy must come from renewable sources by this date.
The Renewable Obligation can play an important role in achieving this. When it started in 2003 the RO specified that 3% of the electricity sold should come from renewables. This target will rise gradually to 10.4% by 2010, and 15.4% by 2015.
A feed in tariff scheme in Germany has been highly successful. German householders get a guaranteed premium price for the green energy they supply to the grid, with contracts lasting between 15 and 25 years. As a result it now has 200 times more solar power than the UK.
For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
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