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| Fig. 1: Wind Capacity in the UK 2011-2021 [1] (Image source: N. Roy) |
The United Kingdom boasts substantial potential for wind energy, harnessing its natural resources to become a global leader in the renewable energy sector. With its expansive coastline and varied topography, the UK is well-suited for both onshore and offshore wind farms. The consistent and powerful winds along its shores offer a reliable and sustainable source of energy. Aggressive government policies and substantial investments have propelled the development of wind infrastructure, leading to a significant increase in wind power capacity.
According to British Petroleum, the UK generated 64.5 TWh of wind energy in 2022. [1] This was a 14.2% fall from the quantity generated in 2020. In 2020, the UK generated 75.6 TWh of Wind Energy, up from 64.1 TWh in 2019. [1] However, the sector is picking up again after the downward trend of 2021. UK Energy Statistics reported that both onshore and offshore wind achieved records in 2022. [2] Generation from offshore wind increased by 27% and onshore by 21%. They also note the role wind speeds play in the annual performance of wind energy - wind speeds were higher than in 2021, but still lower than in 2020. In spite of this, increased capacity, for example a 24% growth in offshore wind capacity, contributed to the growth in generation. [2]
Looking at sheer wind energy capacity, the UK added 27.1 GW of wind capacity in 2021 - up from 24.5 GW in 2020 and 24.1 GW in 2019. Overall, wind capacity in the UK grew by 15.2% from 2011-2021. Fig. 1 shows this growth. [1]
It turns out that the UK is one of the leading generators of wind energy in Europe. In 2021, the UK had the second most wind power generated in Europe after Germany, which generated 117.7 TWh. [1] This trend persisted in preceding years, with the UK second to Germany in generated wind power in 2019 and 2020. In terms of installed wind capacity, the UK is third in Europe as of 2021, with Germany on top with 63.8 GW installed and Spain in second with 27.5 GW. However, the UK had the highest rate of growth in wind capacity in Europe in the decade 2011-2021, with Germany at 8.3% and Spain at 2.5% in the same time period. [1] This is a promising trend for the UK as it looks to keep developing its wind energy sector.
It can be seen that despite a slight blip in 2021 wind energy is growing at a steady rate in the UK. The trends in wind energy capacity development, particularly in offshore projects, have shown impressive growth. As compared to the rest of Europe. The UK has one of the highest generations of wind power as well as the highest rate of adding wind capacity. As technological advancements continue to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, the UK's wind energy sector is poised for further expansion and increased contribution to the national energy grid.
© Neel Roy. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] "BP Statistical Review of World Energy," British Petroleum, 2020, 2021, 2022.
[2] L. Waters, "Chapter 6: Renewable Sources of Energy," in Digest of UK Energy Statistics, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, July 2023.