14 DAY TRIAL // Even though wind farms are some of the most criticized sources of renewable power, several countries are still doing their best to favor their development, as part of a growing commitment to shift away from a fossil fuel dominance.
Despite all the controversy surrounding this topic, RenewableUK has recently announced that the UK has succeeded in adding 6GW of wind energy to the grid, enough to bring eco-friendly power to 3.3 million households, according to BusinessGreen.
The result is encouraging, and highlights the same sustainable goals followed by other European countries, also intensively supporting the renewable sector.
The UK government plans to follow the same path, in order to further green up the grid, by exploiting other 19.5GW, through a series of new projects proposed or under construction at this point in time.
All in all, the UK wants to be able to brag about 31GW offered by onshore and offshore farms, by 2020, and it is keen on backing the expansion of affordable, reliable wind power.
"We are eager to ensure that the UK becomes the natural home for the most innovative, ambitious and inspiring renewable energy companies in the world, and we will continue to work with the industry to drive down costs and encourage even stronger growth in the years to come," stated Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.
At the same time, this statement reflects that the UK is adopting all the right strategies to promote alternative sources of energy, even when some authorized voices blame wind power for its small part in increasing air quality and greening up the lives of British people.
The Civitas report questions the role of wind turbines, affirming that they could even increase fossil fuel usage because of their lack of reliability.
The controversial study was issued in an attempt to make the UK government minimize its support for wind farms, explaining that such an attitude would add £400 (€479/$617) to energy bills until 2020.
While ditching this disturbing forecast, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said that smart policies adopted to boost the usage of alternative sources of power were expected to cut down the value of energy bills by 7% over the next eight years.