First Major UK Offshore Windfarm Marks Way to a Safe and Secure Energy Future

Tomorrow's inauguration of the UK's first major offshore windfarm, at North Hoyle in Liverpool Bay, is a significant early step out of the fossil fuel era and into what can be a renewably powered world say environmental campaigners (1). The opening of the 30 turbine scheme, five miles out from Rhyl and Prestatyn, comes at a time of growing world tensions and concerns associated with the use of fossil fuel and nuclear energy to power modern lifestyles (2). The campaigners want to see many more offshore windfarms and other renewable energy technologies using the power of the marine environment to generate UK electricity demands. This would reduce UK dependence on increasingly expensive imported oil and gas brought from further and further afield (3).

Greater self-sufficiency would also reduce the need to secure supplies of fossil fuels which often cause political problems in the regions holding the resources, especially in poor or unstable countries (4). The group point out that the global warming emissions from the continued burning of fossil fuels are also likely to create new geo-political tensions in regions hit by more frequent and damaging weather events and sea-level rise. There could be as many as 150 million climate refugees by 2050, about 3 million per year (5).

The group say that for example about 30,000 offshore wind turbines could generate all UK electricity consumption, slashing its global warming emissions by about 25% (6). By comparison, Germany has already installed nearly 15,000 turbines onshore, albeit smaller ones.

Neil Crumpton, energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"This windfarm is an early step to what can be a safe, clean renewably powered world. It stands in complete contrast to the security threats posed by nuclear power facilities and securing oil and gas resources, and the severe global warming dangers being caused by fossil fuel use. In the last seven days there have been Government warnings about UK nuclear power stations being terrorist targets and revelations about private plans by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to secure new sources of oil around the world. Yet, the UK has a strategic resource of secure, climate-friendly energy in its own waters.

The Blair government would do well to ensure investors have confidence to rapidly deploy many more windfarms and other renewable energy technologies in and around the UK and to put pressure on President Bush to sign the Kyoto climate protection treaty."

The North Hoyle windfarm will generate enough electricity to supply the average needs of around 30,000 people or about 1% of Welsh electricity consumption. A second 30 turbine offshore windfarm in Liverpool Bay at Rhyl Flats, which has been given the go-ahead, could generate electricity for possibly twice as many people depending on the size of the turbines chosen.

Notes

1) The inauguration will take place at 10am at the Town Hall in Rhyl - see http://www.natwindpower.co.uk/

2) Warning on national media (Saturday 15th November) about terrorist threats to UK nuclear power stations; heightened tensions in Middle East associated with history of tensions caused by access to oil resources.

3) Initially Norway, then Russia, Algeria and Saudi Arabia (a new Shell deal to explore the 'empty quarter' was recently announced). A controversial BP-led consortium to build an oil pipeline from Azerbaijan to Turkey, which could keep vast quantities of oil out of Russian hands is also strongly backed by the the UK and US governments.

4) Revelations (on 14th Nov: guardian.co.uk/oil ) about a private summit between Bush and Blair, at the president's Texas ranch in April last year, to coordinate actions to secure oil resources in Africa, central Asia and the Caspian region.

5) N Myers & J Kent, 'Environmental Exodus', these figures are often referred to by Sir John Houghton, ex co-chair of an IPCC working group.

6) UK electricity consumption averages nearly 45 GW over a year. 30,000 turbines of average capacity 4.2 MW would generate an average of over 44 GW. The UK currently has just over 1,000 on-shore turbines. The UK offshore wind resource is estimated to be over three times UK electricity needs.