United Kingdom Approves Leases for 15 Offshore Wind Power Projects

January 14, 2004

The United Kingdom's Crown Estate announced in late December that it had accepted bids for 15 wind energy projects off the U.K. coast. The Crown Estate owns the seabed surrounding the United Kingdom and is offering to lease the offshore property to the wind energy developers for 40 to 50 years. The 15 projects still need to pass environmental assessments and obtain approval and financing for their projects, but if all are built, their peak generating capacity could total 7,200 megawatts, equal to 7 percent of Britain's electricity load. The developers have until January 20th to accept the lease offers. See the announcements from the Crown Estate and the British Wind Energy Association. Maps of the proposed wind facility sites are available online on the Crown Estate Web site.

The news is sure to be a discussion topic at "Global WINDPOWER 2004," a wind energy conference and exhibition to be held in Chicago from March 28th to the 31st. The American Wind Energy Association is presenting the event, which is co-sponsored by DOE. See the conference Web site.