The UK’s Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday that the UK government will set aside £60 million ($77 million) for the next clean energy contract auction due for spring of 2019 and that the government and the offshore wind industry are close to reaching a specific Sector Deal.
Pushed over the line by two coal-to-biomass conversions and continuing growth in offshore wind, the British renewable energy industry finally surpassed the capacity levels of its fossil fuel predecessors, with total capacity reaching 42 gigawatts (GW) in the third quarter, beating out the fossil fuel industry which only has 40.6 GW.
A new report commissioned by the Crown Estate Scotland has found that not only does floating offshore wind have an important role to play in the UK’s plans to generate 50 gigawatts (GW) from offshore wind by 2050 but that it could support up to 17,000 jobs and provide £33.6 billion in added value.
14 major renewable energy companies have penned a joint letter to the UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, urging him to drop the current restrictions on onshore wind which prevent it from competing in the Government’s power auctions.
The UK wind energy industry announced this week that it has surpassed 20 gigawatts (GW) worth of generating capacity with the opening of Ørsted’s 659 megawatt (MW) Walney Extension off the coast of Cumbria.
Having spent years working in the renewable energy industry, especially in the UK South West, I witnessed first-hand the political and economic backlash against the industry. As is often the case, with the anti-renewables backlash, there is more going on than first meets the eye.
The latest figures published by the UK Government show that renewable and clean energy sources continue to skyrocket, hitting 29.3% and 50.1% respectively, and led by another strong year for wind energy generation.
Europe added a total of 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of new wind energy throughout the first half of 2018, according to new data from WindEurope, down by 26% on the same period a year earlier, heralding what some believe are “worrying trends” for the market.
The UK offshore wind energy industry is set to double after the country’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy announced on Monday long-term political support for the country’s offshore wind energy industry by confirming the next competitive auction would take place in May 2019 and every 2 years afterwards, with Government support worth up to £557 million.
A new YouGov poll in the UK has revealed that a clear majority of residents in the country not only support onshore wind power but actively favor an end to the Government’s effective-ban on new onshore wind power.
