Spaldington Airfield
Wind Farm

ONLINE CONSULTATION

There are many reasons to support the development of wind energy in the UK, here are a few:

• It is a clean way to generate electricity - no harmful emissions are produced by the operation of wind farms
• A wind turbine repays all of the energy used to make it in less than a year of operation, meaning that it generates many times more energy in its 25 year lifetime than was ever used in making it⁸
• It is inexhaustible - no matter how much wind we use today, there will always be a supply in the future
• It has low impacts - at the end of a wind farm's life turbines can be easily removed and the land returned to its former use. There is no legacy for future generations to deal with
• It helps offset likely future rises in fuel prices - once a wind turbine is installed the fuel is free
• It is good for the economy - fossil fuel imports are reduced and the UK's balance of payments is strengthened

 So what is the potential?

• The UK is the windiest country in Europe⁹ having around 40% of Europe's wind resource¹⁰.
• Wind turbines generate electricity for around 70-85% of the time¹¹.
• Denmark already produces around 20% of its electricity from the wind¹² and it was recorded on one occasion on 5^th November 2009 that wind power produced over 45% of Spain's electricity¹³.
• The Government's target is for 15% of the UK's energy (including electricity, heat and fuel) to come from renewable sources by 2020. This is likely to require 30-35% of electricity to come from renewable sources
• Shortly after coming to power, the Coalition Government in July 2010 produced a UK Renewable Energy Action Plan in which it predicts that altogether a total of over 14,890 MW of onshore wind farms will be needed across the country and 12,990 MW of off shore turbines¹⁴.  As of July 2011, combined, we only have 5,553 MW of on and offshore wind power built¹⁵.