RenewableUK has revealed the UK has installed 15,000MW of operational onshore wind capacity.
The project which enabled the UK to cross the threshold was EDF Renewables UK’s 30.1MW West Benhar onshore wind farm in North Lanarkshire, consisting of seven turbines.
The UK now has 2631 operating onshore wind schemes.
This represents significant progress since the country’s first commercial wind farm, Delabole in Cornwall, opened in 1991 with a capacity of just 4MW. Onshore wind now provides 11% of Britain’s electricity a year.
EDF Renewables UK chief executive Matthieu Hue said: “It is great to see the impact that our efforts as a business and as part of the wider industry are having on accelerating the journey to net zero. Onshore wind has a major part to play in reaching UK’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Opening West Benhar wind farm in recent weeks is a positive step to realising the country’s ambitions. We have worked closely with the local supply chain and communities throughout the project, investing millions in contracts with Scottish and UK companies to construct the wind farm.
“Over £4.5m will be re-invested back into the local community over the wind farm’s lifespan. It is a great reminder of the huge positive impact brought by onshore wind farm investments to the UK.”
RenewableUK’s head of policy James Robottom added: “It is great to see West Benhar going fully operational – this excellent Scottish project boosts the UK’s total onshore wind capacity to over 15GW, which is a major milestone for the industry, strengthening our energy security and providing clean electricity for consumers from one of our cheapest sources of new power.”