Nine New Offshore Wind Farm Zone Licences For UK Waters
28th July, 2010
THE Institution of Civil Engineers has welcomed the announcement that nine new offshore wind farm zone licences will be issued for UK waters - including one for the Bristol Channel.
RWE Npower Renewables has been given the rights by the Crown Estate to create a wind farm in the channel, a development that could yield up to 1.5 gigawatts of generating capacity and 4 Twh of energy, which is 15 per cent of the South West’s electricity demand.
Barry Griffiths, Regional Director of the South West Institution of Civil Engineers, said: "This announcement is a welcome investment in the future of our energy sector. The UK's energy situation is precarious and we urgently need to shift our reliance from fossil fuels to meet ambitious renewable energy targets and address security of supply.
"This could be a significant opportunity for the UK. We have the engineering expertise to deliver world-class wind farms but we must ensure progress isn't hindered by planning delays, a lack of skilled engineers and supply chain constraints. Ongoing investment in supporting infrastructure and the national grid itself will be crucial to ensure these projects reach their full potential.
"If successful, these projects could go a long way to ensure ongoing security of supply."
