§ 34. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the estimated size of a wind park with an output capacity of 1200 MW; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr Michael SpicerIt is estimated that the land area required for a wind farm with an installed capacity of 1200 MW might be between 110 and 140 square miles although there is still considerable uncertainty about this. It is likely that the machines required would be grouped within smaller wind farms, however. Currently, within my Department's research and development programme on wind energy, we are examining the environmental implications and public acceptability of wind farms. The programme is also examining constraints on the United Kingdom's total wind energy resource that would be imposed by such significant environmental factors as national parks, areas designated as being of outstanding natural beauty and urban land.