UK passes 30-GW threshold for operational wind power capacity

The UK’s wind power generation capacity in operation, both onshore and offshore, has recently passed the 30-GW mark to reach a total of 30,299 MW, industry body RenewableUK reports, quoting its EnergyPulse market intelligence service.

The milestone was achieved with SSE Renewables’ commissioning of the 443-MW Viking wind farm in Shetland this past June.

The UK got its first commercial onshore wind farm, Delabole in Cornwall, up and running in 1991 and reached its first gigawatt of capacity from this power source in 2005. The 10-GW and 15-GW thresholds were passed in 2013 and 2017, respectively.

According to RenewableUK, the UK now has enough wind capacity to meet the annual power demand of over 26 million homes and reduce carbon emissions by more than 35 million tonnes a year. Statistics published by the government in July show that, together, onshore and offshore wind farms have generated a record 28.1% of the UK’s total electricity in 2023, whilst accounting for more than 60% of the electricity produced from renewables.

“Our research also shows doubling the UK’s onshore wind capacity by the end of the decade would boost the economy by GBP 45 billion [USD 59.4bn/EUR 53.5bn] and create 27,000 jobs, whilst moving to an electricity system dominated by offshore wind by 2035 would leave consumers around GBP 68 a year better off,” commented Ana Musat, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Policy & Engagement.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.319/EUR 1.190)

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