Wind Energy

The British Isles is the windiest place in Europe, with 40% of the whole of Europe's wind resource. But despite this we are trailing well behind other European countries in terms of the electricity harvested from this abundant natural resource.

Wind turbines are growing in power output and therefore generating larger proportions of the UK's demand. Wind power now provides more than 2% of the country's electricity supply and this is set to grow significantly in the coming years.

Wind turbines generate electricity for 80% of the year.

Every unit of energy produced by the wind displaces a unit of energy from conventional power stations. This means a reduction in carbon dioxide and other gaseous emissions.

Wind farms payback the energy used in building the wind farm in around 9 months. This includes all the energy used in quarrying raw materials, processing, manufacture, transportation and construction. At the end of their 25-year lives, turbines can be decommissioned quickly and simply, with the site reinstated to its former landscape.

Wind farms are relatively straightforward to transport, build and decommission. If sited correctly they have limited environmental impacts, which are comfortably offset by the benefits of generating safe, clean, renewable electricity.