Wind Power
The SDC believes that to tackle the problems of climate change and energy security, wind power must be made to work.
Our report 'Wind Power in the UK' aims to help policy-makers and planners balance genuine local concerns with wider environmental and social needs, thereby allowing the benefits of renewable energy to be realised through careful design and consultation. It can also be used as a good practice guide by those involved in onshore wind farm development.
'Wind Power in the UK' was commissioned in Autumn 2004 by the SDC with funding from the Department for Trade & Industry (now Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform). It was published in May 2005.
» Download our full report 'Wind Power in the UK' (revised Nov 2005)
» Download our booklet 'Wind Power: Your Questions Answered', for householders
Findings from the report include:
• The UK has the best and most geographically diverse wind resources in Europe, more than enough to meet current renewable energy targets
• Technological advances mean there are no limits to the amount of wind capacity that can be added to an electricity system
• Planners and decision-makers should involve communities in effective public consultation from an early stage, and their concerns must be addressed; solutions exist to many such issues
• Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy and increasing supply to 20 per cent by 2020 would present only a very modest increase in cost for consumers that compares well with other energy sources. Indeed, as fossil fuel prices increase and wind turbines become cheaper to build, wind power may even become one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation over the next 15 years
• Wind power will displace fossil-fuelled plant, and there is no need for dedicated ‘backup’ plant to cope with wind
• Wind farms have been most successful where good working partnerships are formed.
"A recent report by the government's Sustainable Development Commission was hailed by the industry as a breakthrough because it showed wind power was becoming price competitive with other fuels."
Mark Townsend, Observer, 26th June
"The most comprehensive study of wind energy in Britain"
Geoffrey Lean, Independent, 15th May
"Because of the highly charged debate on wind power the report has been peer reviewed, like a scientific paper, to give it greater credibility so it can be used by planners as an authoritative document"
Paul Brown, Guardian 19th May
Over 80,000 copies of the two reports already distributed!
» Download our full report 'Wind Power in the UK' (revised Nov 2005)
» Download our booklet 'Wind Power: Your Questions Answered', for householders
» Wind Power Q&A
» Wind Power news story
» Read more about the SDC's energy policy work
» Read more about the SDC's climate change work
