The bold vision of the Energy WhitePaper, the DTI's recently publishedRenewables Innovation Review and

now even the Royal Society have all pin-pointed wind energy as the major con-tributor to the UK's target on the genera-tion of electricity from renewables. Thiscomes as no surprise to many; the poten-tial of the UK wind market, both on andoffshore has long been recognised,although historically slow to be devel-oped. What is possibly more surprising is

the clear signal from the UK Governmentthat it is serious about delivering onrenewables targets, that it has acceptedthat wind power will be key in achievingthis and that every effort should be madeto help the wind industry achieve thesedemanding goals. This was made abun-dantly clear in December last year whenUK Energy Minister Stephen Timms "lis-tened and responded" to extensive lob-bying from the industry on the need foraction to ensure greater confidence in

the renewables sector, without which itwas feared that the necessary financingfor building large-scale wind projects,particularly those offshore, would not beforthcoming.

Can industry rise to thechallenge?The result was the announcement of anextension of the Renewables Obligationfrom its current level of 10% by 2010 to15% by 2015, giving stability to theshape of the future market for renew-ables. But this did not come without pro-visos. The scope of the potential of windpower and the role it is expected to playis now well-documented, but what is notso certain is the ability of the industry todeliver to the levels required. And thiswas the challenge that the Minister laiddown in return: "The Government haslistened and responded... I am now look-

ing to the industry torespond", making clearthat consented projectsneed to be built as soon aspossible, not just to meettargets but also sustain andcreate more jobs in the UK.

What is also at stake isthe future role of therenewables industry as awhole. If renewables, andhere the onus is almostentirely on wind, do notdemonstrably deliver beforethe review of theObligation, scheduled for2005/6, then other gener-ating technologies may berevisited to provide therequired reductions ingreenhouse gas emissions.

20 reFOCUS March/April 2004 1471 0846/04 ©2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UKRENEWABLES

Industry Viewpoint

Harnessing wind, wave and tide

The UK looks set to finally take off as a serious wind poweruser. Wave and tidal power too could well be a majorrenewable source in the future. Alison Hill and Michael Hay,British Wind Energy Association, UK highlight the currentstatus and challenges ahead for wind and marine renewables in the UK.

Wind turbine nacelles lined up at SLP Energy’s yard in Lowestoft, ready for installation offshore atScroby Sands, which is due to be commissioned later this year.Photo credit: SLP Energy. © Charles Hodge Photography, Lowestoft, UK

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So, can wind deliver? What evidence ofprogress has been evidenced in the twen-ty three months since the RenewablesObligation was introduced? 2002 saw asmany megawatts of planning permissionfor new wind projects achieved as hasbeen built during the whole of the1990s. But this record was blown out ofthe water in the space of just one weekin 2003, with consent for three offshoreprojects, while 2003 as a whole saw con-sent awarded for 1,400 MW of newwind power - numbers unthinkable foran industry that so far had demonstratedan annual build rate of a mere 55 MW.

ProgressProgress indeed, but not tangible enough:actual build last year, although the highestever recorded in the UK, was still only justover 100 MW. Expectations of the sectornow stand at around 8,000 MW of windcapacity in place by 2010, requiring abuild rate of 1225 MW pa - 11-foldgreater than was achieved in 2003. Goodnews then that the latest industry projec-tions show projects totaling over 1,000MW of new capacity, representing aninvestment of some £1 billion, will be builtover the next two years. This will take thetotal installed wind capacity in the UK towell over 1,650 MW by the end of 2005,supplying 1.3% of total UK electricityneeds, more than double current levels.The UK wind industry has at long last leftthe phase of gestation and is now finallyentering the phase of delivery. As MarcusRand, Chief Executive of BWEA, com-mented: "2003 was the year of consents:2004 will be the year of build."

Into the blueBWEA embraces the marine renewables industry

The UK has the best wave and tidalresources in Europe, an asset that has thepotential to provide a considerable per-centage of power for the domestic mar-ket. Coupled with this is a strong historyof innovation that has produced some ofthe leading marine energy devices in theworld today. However, these devices facea number of challenges if they are tofully exploit their potential and succeed inreaching large-scale commercialisation

before their global competitors.Nevertheless, with the possibility of con-siderable economic benefits for the UKfollowing commercialisation it hasbecome vital that this emerging industryis fully supported in overcoming thesechallenges by all means possible.

The recent decision by the BWEA toexpand its hugely successful wind man-date to include marine renewables istherefore an exciting development thatwill draw upon over 25 years of experi-ence in championing renewable energy.This will add weight to the marine causein the UK and strengthen the hope thattechnologies developed in the UK willeventually be manufactured there forboth a domestic market and a potentiallyhuge export market.

Wave and tidal forumIn February the BWEA hosted the UK'slargest ever wave and tidal conference inBristol as a joint venture with REGENSouth West. With over 250 delegates itwas a hugely successful event, thediverse crowd emphasising the interest inthis exciting sector from many differentareas. In an upbeat presentation theEnergy Minister Stephen Timms MPemphasised a commitment to the sectorby Government, stating that they are"determined to secure the potential ben-efits of wave and tidal power for the UKin terms of both renewable energy andthe industrial and economic benefits of asuccessful renewables industry".

Tom Delay of the Carbon Trust officiallylaunched their Marine Energy Challenge -an exciting collaboration of technologicalinnovation and engineers that focuses onthe development of marine energy tech-nologies. Matthew Spencer of REGEN-SW then discussed regional support forinnovation in the South West, unveilingtheir vision for a 'wave hub' that couldsupport the pre-commercial testing ofdevices in arrays. In addition, the impres-sive line up of speakers included StephenTindale of Greenpeace and FrankNumann from the Portuguese NationalInstitute of Engineering, Technology andInnovation, together with figures from

industry, finance, conservation and aca-demia. Market enablement mechanismswere thoroughly discussed, together withlessons that could be learned from boththe wind, oil and gas sectors. Financeissues were also addressed from the pointof view of developers, the City and largeutilities. What emerged was a confer-ence built not around discussions of tech-nical differences in the sector but onethat constructively debated the issuesthat affect all committed to makingmarine renewables a success. It highlight-ed that marine renewables are an optionfor the future that many people are tak-ing very seriously today.

Marine Focus GroupThe interest this conference generated isreflected in the interest the BWEA isreceiving about its newly formed marinefocus group and a dedicated member ofstaff has been appointed in order toallow company members access to allvital information on developments withinthe sector. Marine RenewablesDevelopment Manager Michael Hay willrun the Marine Focus Group as a freeservice to company members. A closeassociation with the established offshorewind focus group will also allow mem-bers interested in the development ofmarine renewables to draw upon thewide scope of expertise and experiencethat is building around this dynamic sec-tor. Furthermore its active nature will pro-vide members with the opportunity todiscuss developments and exchangeideas. Indeed as this group develops itwill become the major forum for marineenergy discussion in the UK thereby sup-porting the progression of the industrythrough the creation of interactive net-works of information.

Further information:Alison Hill, Head ofCommunications, BWEA,Renewable Energy House, 1 AztecRow, Berners Road, London N10PW, UK. Tel: +44 20 7689 1966;Fax: +44 20 7689 1969; e-mail: alison@bwea.com;www.bwea.com

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