UK leads the way on offshore windfarms
UK is world leader in offshore windfarms
The UK has become the world's number one for offshore windfarms, taking the title from Denmark.
Developments at Centrica's Lynn and Inner Dowsing windfarms near Skegness mean that the UK now has 597 megawatts of wind turbines fully constructed and offshore windfarms now have the power to generate electricity for some 300,000 UK homes.
This achievement follows prime minister Gordon Brown's announcement that the UK gets three gigawatts of electricity from wind power.
Commenting on the development, Mike O'Brien, minister of state at the new Department of Energy and Climate Change, said: "Offshore wind is hugely important to help realise the government's ambition to dramatically increase the amount of energy from renewable sources. Overtaking Denmark is just the start."
He added that there are currently a further five windfarms being constructed off the UK's coasts which are expected to add 938 megawatts to the UK's total by next year.
In the future the total could be increased by 25 gigawatts, enough to power every UK home, Mr O'Brien continued.
Meanwhile, BT is lining up a £10 million windfarm in Hartlepool, following 18 months of research into potential sites, reports the Peterlee Mail.
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
