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Wind power in the United Kingdom
British grid electricity in 2024[1]
The United Kingdom is the best location for wind power in Europe and one of the best in the world.[2][3] The combination of long coastline, shallow water and strong winds make offshore wind unusually effective.[4]
By 2023, the UK had over 11 thousand wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW): 16 GW onshore and 15 GW offshore,[5] the sixth largest capacity of any country.[6] Wind power is the largest source of renewable energy in the UK, but at under 5% still far less primary energy than oil or fossil gas.[7]: 13 However, wind power generates electricity which is far more powerful in terms of useful energy than the same amount of thermal primary energy. Wind generates more than a quarter of UK electricity, and as of May 2024 generates more than gas over a whole year.[8]
Polling of public opinion consistently shows strong support for wind power in the UK, with nearly three-quarters of the population agreeing with its use, even for people living near onshore wind turbines.[9]
The government has committed to a major expansion of offshore capacity to 60 GW by 2030[10],with 5GW from floating wind.[11] One reason for this is to improve energy security.[12] It's reported by industry experts TGS 4C Offshore that the UK is currently not on track to meet this target due to challenges within the permitting process, supply chain and strike prices, however with the recent change of government and allocation round 6 budget this could likely accelerate the build out to 2030.[10]
- ^ "Britain's Electricity Explained: 2024 Review". National Grid ESO. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "UK Renewable Energy Roadmap Crown copyright, July 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Lu, Xi, Michael B. McElroy, and Juha Kiviluoma. 2009. "Global potential for wind-generated electricity". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(27): 10933-10938.
- ^ Frangoul, Anmar (9 October 2023). "The world's largest offshore wind farm produces its first power". CNBC. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "UK Wind Energy Database (UKWED)". RenewableUK. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Wind power production for main countries". thewindpower.net. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "UK ENERGY IN BRIEF 2023" (PDF).
- ^ Vaughan, Adam (21 May 2024). "Wind power overtook gas as UK's biggest source of energy last year". The Times & The Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Onshore wind more popular with Conservative voters than MPs realise". The Independent. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ a b "TGS 4C Offshore Global Market Overview Report". TGS 4C Offshore Market Intelligence Service. 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Statement on the British Energy Security Strategy". Archived from the original on 19 April 2022.
- ^ "British Energy Security Strategy" (PDF).
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