Windier Britain Could Boost Energy Generation By 10%

The UK could see its energy production from onshore wind turbines increase by as much as ten per cent, as the country is set to experience stronger winds due to climate change.

Earlier this week, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), together with the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol, released a new study entitled European Wind Generation Within A 1.5C Warmer World.

It combined data from 282 onshore wind turbines over 11 years, and came to the conclusion that many areas of northern Europe – including Germany, Poland, Lithuania and the UK – could become great hubs for wind energy generation if global temperatures rise by 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Dr Scott Hosking at the BAS, lead author of the study, said: “Nine months of the year could see UK wind turbines generating electricity levels currently only seen in winter.”

He added that summer would see a significant increase in wind generation, so “wind could provide a greater proportion of the UK’s energy mix than has been previously assumed”.

If the UK could boost its wind energy production by a tenth, this would provide power to an extra 700,000 homes a year.

This is a considerable increase in the amount of energy produced by wind turbines, and could help Europe achieve renewable targets set by the European Commission’s 2030 energy strategy of at least 27 per cent.

Britain is trying to boost its green energy production, despite a decline in investment last year. According to the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (Recai) by EY, the UK has focused on its onshore wind projects and repowering old wind farms, which helped it achieve seventh place in the list.

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