fewcott windfarm

Why Wind?

There are many reasons to support the development of wind energy in the UK, here are a few:

It is a safe way to produce electricity; many alternative forms of electricity generation, such as nuclear, utilise harmful substances during the generation process
It is a clean way to produce electricity; wind energy does not produce any harmful emissions
It is a sensible way to produce energy; the wind is free compared with rising fossil fuel prices and potential difficulties associated with fuel availability.
The UK is the windiest country in Europe
No matter how much wind we use today, there will still be the same supply in the future
Wind energy is projected to be the cheapest form of electricity by 2020. (Source: Sustainable Development Commission)
At the end of a windfarm's lifespan, it is easy to decommission and return the ground back to its former use

How does the windiest country in Europe (the UK) compare?

In 2004 less than 0.5% of Britain's electricity came from wind. Germany had 17 times the UK capacity. In the same year, Spain installed 8 times as much new wind capacity as the UK and has doubled its renewable energy target to 15% by 2010 (UK target is 10%). Demark already generates 20% of it's electricity from wind...

...and yet the UK has 40% of Europe's wind energy resource! (Source: British Wind Energy Association)