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| UK wind power reaches milestone | |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| The UK has become only the seventh nation in the world to have more than two gigawatts (GW) of operational wind power capacity. | |
| The milestone was passed on Friday when the Braes O'Doune wind farm, near Stirling, began producing electricity. | |
| Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling described it as a "major landmark" for the UK wind industry. | |
| The government has set a target for 10% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. | The government has set a target for 10% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. |
| The 36-turbine Braes O'Doune wind farm, built and operated by Airtricity, has a generating capacity of 72 megawatts (MW), enough to supply electricity to 45,000 homes in the area, according to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA). | |
| Maria McCaffery, BWEA's chief executive, said passing the 2GW mark, equivalent to two coal-fired power stations, was a "tremendous step forward". | |
| class="bodl" href="#graphic">See how a wind turbine works | |
| name="top"> "This is a day for celebrating the achievement of a significant milestone for our industry and underlining the position of wind energy as the true leader in the renewables revolution," she said. | |
| Mr Darling said renewable electricity played a central role in the government's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. | Mr Darling said renewable electricity played a central role in the government's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. |
| LEADING WIND ENERGY NATIONS 1. Germany - 20,622MW2. Spain - 11,615MW3. USA - 11,273MW4. India - 6,053MW5. Denmark - 3,136MW6. Italy - 2,123MW7. UK - 2,016MW8. Netherlands - 1,564MW (Source: BWEA) | LEADING WIND ENERGY NATIONS 1. Germany - 20,622MW2. Spain - 11,615MW3. USA - 11,273MW4. India - 6,053MW5. Denmark - 3,136MW6. Italy - 2,123MW7. UK - 2,016MW8. Netherlands - 1,564MW (Source: BWEA) |
| "This is a major landmark. In the last 20 months we have doubled the amount of wind generated electricity we have." | |
| Mr Darling, who officially opened the Scottish wind farm, added that more green energy sources were needed. | |
| "If you are serious about tackling climate change then we have got to be serious about making sure that we have more renewable forms of energy, including wind power. | |
| "We want 20% of our electricity to come from these green sources (by 2020) and we are working hard on removing any barriers to achieving that aim." | "We want 20% of our electricity to come from these green sources (by 2020) and we are working hard on removing any barriers to achieving that aim." |
| The government wants 20% of electricity to come from renewables | |
| Latest government figures show that 4.2% of the UK's electricity is generated by renewables, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass. | |
| Onshore wind farms have proved to be controversial, with a number of high-profile projects facing fierce opposition from local residents. | Onshore wind farms have proved to be controversial, with a number of high-profile projects facing fierce opposition from local residents. |
| Plans to create England's largest wind farm in Cumbria were thrown out last March after campaigners said it would ruin the landscape of the Lake District. | Plans to create England's largest wind farm in Cumbria were thrown out last March after campaigners said it would ruin the landscape of the Lake District. |
| The £55m development would have seen 27 turbines, each 115 metres (377ft) high, erected at Whinash, near Kendal. | The £55m development would have seen 27 turbines, each 115 metres (377ft) high, erected at Whinash, near Kendal. |
| 'Wildlife threat' | 'Wildlife threat' |
| And proposals to create one of Europe's largest onshore wind farms on Lewis, the most northerly Hebridean island, have been challenged by wildlife groups. | And proposals to create one of Europe's largest onshore wind farms on Lewis, the most northerly Hebridean island, have been challenged by wildlife groups. |
| They say the 181-turbine development will harm important peat bog habitat, and threaten wild bird populations. | They say the 181-turbine development will harm important peat bog habitat, and threaten wild bird populations. |
| However, local councillors on Thursday backed the £500m project, although a final decision on whether the scheme can go ahead is likely to be made by the Scottish Executive. | However, local councillors on Thursday backed the £500m project, although a final decision on whether the scheme can go ahead is likely to be made by the Scottish Executive. |
| Despite having some of the best wind resources in Europe, the UK is still a long way behind the world's leading nation on wind power. | Despite having some of the best wind resources in Europe, the UK is still a long way behind the world's leading nation on wind power. |
| Germany has more than 20GW of wind energy capacity, 10 times as much as the UK. | Germany has more than 20GW of wind energy capacity, 10 times as much as the UK. |
| HOW WIND TURBINES WORK 1. Wind causes blades to rotate2. Shaft turns generator to produce electrical energy3. A transformer turns this into high-voltage electricity4. Electricity is transmitted via the power grid Return to link |