UK takes lead in offshore power
Paul Brown, environment correspondent
Wednesday April 20, 2005
The Guardian
Britain is set to become the world's biggest producer of electricity from offshore wind farms next year as more than 100 giant turbines are connected to the grid, a conference in London was told yesterday.
Both Denmark and Germany have slowed their wind farm plans because offshore development is expensive in deeper water, but in the shallow waters round England and Wales - which are the windiest in Europe - developers are building turbines are fast as possible.
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Currently the UK has two offshore wind farms fully commissioned, North Hoyle off Rhyl in north Wales and Scroby Sands of Great Yarmouth, each with 30 two-megawatt turbines.
Another nine offshore wind farms are set to be completed before the end of next year, and each turbine will produce at least 50% more power than those now installed. All have been helped with capital grants from the government, anxious to reach its target of producing 10% of electricity from renewables by 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/renewable/Story/0,2763,1463735,00.html