England

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE UK

"IN ORDER TO MEET THE GOVERNMENT TARGETS FOR REDUCED EMISSIONS, WE WILL NEED TO DEVELOP OTHER RENEWABLE RESOURCES. THIS COULD CREATE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES."

Max Carcas, Business Development Director, Ocean Power Delivery.

Although less than 3 per cent of electricity is currently generated from renewable sources in the UK, there is a strong drive both by government and industry to increase this.

As a result, the UK's renewable energy sector is now expanding at a faster rate than ever before and is predicted to be worth more than US$1.6 billion by 2010. The Government is developing a regulatory and legislative environment, based around targets and incentives to encourage the take-up of renewable energy. The UK's Climate Change Programme provides a framework of action to meet the targets of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent by 2010. Renewable energy is a key component of this programme, with a Renewables Obligation for 10 per cent of electricity to be generated from renewable source by 2010. This is all helping to stimulate the development of a highly competitive domestic market. The sector is expanding rapidly, with both domestic and international companies investing in new facilities and services to take advantage of the opportunities becoming available.

Vestas-Celtic Wind Technology Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Danish company Vestas, established a wind turbine manufacturing facility near Campbeltown, on Scotland's Mull of Kintyre, in 2002. Vestas has played a major role in the dynamic wind power industry and is one of the world leaders in wind technology. The turbine factory involved an investment of US$28 million and is expected to create 124 new jobs.

NEG Micon
In 1998, NEG Micon A/S of Denmark, one of the world's leading suppliers of wind turbines, acquired two UK turbine manufacturers. Both had developed a number of exciting technologies but were limited by the slow emergence of wind energy in the UK at the time. NEG Micon quickly set about an investment programme to develop the technologies. The investment led to the establishment of a new rotor blade factory on the Isle of Wight in the south of England. The total investment of US$25 million was aided by a substantial government grant. By 2003, the renamed NEG Micon Rotors Ltd employed over 400 staff, including 50 professional engineers. The company produced over 800 blades in 2002. UK Government support has helped NEG Micon Rotors take a technology lead through innovative R&D projects, many of which are now turning into commercial products.

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