20% of UK households powered by wind turbines

RenewableUK, the trade and professional body for the wind, wave & tidal industries, has welcomed the publication of new Government statistics showing that the UK’s wind fleet produced over 50% more electricity in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year. This corresponds to an output of 5,044 gigawatt-hours – equivalent to the demand of over a fifth of the homes in the UK.

RenewableUK’s Director of Policy Dr Gordon Edge said:

“Today in the House of Commons MPs will be debating the measures necessary to accelerate green economic growth. At the same time, the release of these figures provides a powerful indication that green growth is beginning to take hold.

“Wind is working, and providing an increasing share of our electricity supply. While the wind speeds in the first quarter of this year have been slightly higher than average, the industry is working to increase the capacity of our wind fleet, to help make sure we can make the best use of Britain’s top-class wind resource. At the same time, the investment we’re making in wind power is generating over half a billion pounds of economic activity in the UK from onshore wind alone.

“I call on the Members of Parliament debating the future of our economy today to recognise this, and work to implement policies that will help bring forward the investment we need to decarbonise our power sector and help kick-start growth.”

RenewableUK is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with more than 640 corporate members, RenewableUK is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK.

The statistical press release from the Department of Energy and Climate Change can be found here: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_076/pn12_076.aspx

The homes figure is based on the Ofgem median household consumption figure of 3.3MWh, and the annualisation of first-quarter output. There are 27 million households in the UK.

www.renewableuk.com