According to recent statistics released by the European Wind Energy Association and National Grid, the UK’s offshore wind industry is going from strength to strength. Key facts and figures include:

• The UK now has more offshore wind capacity than all the other countries in the world put together.
• In 2012, the industry grew faster in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.
• Last year, 73% of Europe’s new offshore wind farms were built in British waters and almost 60% of Europe’s total offshore wind capacity is located in our seas.
• 2012 was the best year ever for the industry, with nine new offshore wind farms connected to the grid, bringing a combined 854MW of new generating capacity.
• UK offshore wind farms now have a total capacity of 2.9GW – enough to power 1.9 million homes.

On top of all that, the blustery weather experienced across the UK in the early part of 2013 led to the wind energy industry as a whole generating a record amount of electricity. On Sunday 3 February, the nation’s onshore and offshore wind turbines crossed the 5GW threshold for the first time ever – generating enough energy to power more than 10 million homes and supply 12% of the UK’s total electricity requirements. 

Wilding says: ‘These fantastic achievements are proof that investment in onshore and offshore wind is money well-spent. Hopefully these figures will help dispel the doubts that many people still feel about the commercial viability of offshore wind in particular.’

Source: RenewableUKand National Grid(via RenewableUK)