10 Jul 2009 11:07:11
Britain ready for huge wind power increase, report claims
Britain is capable of producing a large amount of its energy from wind power, according to a new report published by leading environmental groups.
Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, RSPB and the WWF produced the study, which suggested that wind power would not require a large amount of support from conventional, non-renewable energy sources.
The report also claimed that the National Grid is capable of managing the variable input that is created by wind power generation, adding that this would bring no significant additional costs.
As well as creating clean energy, a significant focus on wind power will also help to deliver thousands of new jobs to Britain, the findings suggested, with as many as one million people expected to be working in the sector by the end of the decade.
"Utilities worldwide generally agree there is no fundamental technical reason why high proportions of wind cannot be assimilated without the lights going out," said energy expert and report author David Milborrow.
Louise Hutchins, energy solutions campaigner for Greenpeace, added: "This report scuppers the final arguments against wind power.
"The government must now get cracking and make the most of the energy that wind will provide to the country."
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