Windfarm boom for Bay

9:39am Tuesday 18th December 2007

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MORECAMBE Bay could soon be home to a number of offshore wind farm developments after the Government announced plans to roll out renewable energy sources across the country's coastlines, reports Lisa Higginson.

Energy Secretary John Hutton has announced a draft plan to open up Britain's seas in a bid to create wind energy developments that could potentially generate a quarter of the UK's electricity by 2020.

Next year, the UK will overtake Denmark as the country with the most offshore wind capacity and the latest proposals would allow companies to develop up to 25 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2020, in addition to the eight gigawatts already planned, "This potential major expansion will be subject to the outcome of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, but if we could manage to achieve this, by 2020 enough electricity could be generated off our shores to power the equivalent of all of the UK's homes," said Mr Hutton.

"This could be a major contribution towards meeting the EU's target of 20 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020."

The proposal follows on from the last round of offshore wind farms that were proposed in 2003, one of which opened off the coast of Walney Island in 2006 and generates enough electricity to power an average of 87,000 homes.

Further sites at Walney and Duddon Sands have also been earmarked for future offshore developments.

Graham MacLean, a trustee of the Morecambe Bay Partnership, said: "As there is often so much fury over land-based wind farms, putting them on the coasts is the next best thing.

"On this side of the UK there is plenty of wind and, apart from the visual impact, it seems a good enough site as any to have these farms on. It is shallow enough and windy enough to get the best from the turbines.

"I don't think wind farms are going to provide all the energy we need, but we do also have nuclear power stations that have been working away quietly for years."

Mr Maclean added that some concerns had been raised by shipping operators who were anxious about the potential developments blocking ferry routes.

"Heysham is a busy port, with nine ferry sailings a day, so there have been concerns about the location of the wind farms. There are ongoing discussions between the shipping operators and agencies to tackle the issue."

Leading environmental group Friends of the Earth has welcomed the plans to boost offshore energy and praised the Government for investing in a green energy revolution'.

Renewable energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth, Nick Rau, said: "We are delighted the Government is getting serious about the potential for offshore wind.

"There is a lot more renewable energy out there, from big wave and tidal power projects to roof mounted solar PV panels.

"If we make the most of these abundant resources we could generate almost half of our electricity from renewable sources by 2020."