§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many wind farms there are in the UK; and how many are(a) offshore and (b) on land. [41327]
§ Mr. WilsonMy reply is based on the best available information, but this may not be wholly accurate, up-to-date or comprehensive. Excluding very small projects (below 50 Kw installed capacity), the Department is aware of 113 wind farms currently operational in the UK, only one of which is based offshore.
Details of most of these projects were given in my reply of 26 November 2001 to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan), Official Report, columns 671–74W.
In addition, the following wind farms have been added to our records since my earlier reply:
England
- Out Newton, Southfield Farm, Hull, Humberside
- Hedley Hope, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
- Tow Law, Crook, County Durham
Wales
- Cemmaes B. Windfarm, Cemmaes, Machynlleth, Powys
Scotland
- Beinn-An-Tuirc, Near Carradale, Mull of Kintyre
- Cnoc Donn Arniele, Near Carradale, Mull of Kintyre Deucheran Hill, Kintyre, Argyll
- Bu Farm, Rothiesholm, Stronsay, Orkney
- Myres Hill. South of Eaglesham, Galloway
- Sainsbury's Distribution Depot, Langlands Park, East Kilbride.
The wind farm off the coast at Blyth, Northumberland is the only UK wind farm currently based offshore. Between now and 2004, the Government are making available up to £74 million for capital grants for the 678W emerging UK offshore wind industry, in addition to the substantial support for renewable energy generally provided through the Renewables Obligation.