The British government announced on Tuesday, September 3, that it had approved a “record number” of 131 renewable energy projects in the country. “This is the most important thing” The group of projects adopted during a call for tenders for renewable energy, including onshore or offshore wind power, solar energy or tidal energy, it said in a statement. Ultimately, these projects should supply the equivalent of 11 million homes.
However, with just under 10 gigawatts (GW) announced, it is not the largest in terms of capacity. In 2022, the executive announced close to 11 GW. The previous tender, in 2023, failed to attract any offshore wind projects, a sector that is nevertheless crucial for the country’s energy transition, as companies were discouraged by a regulated price that was too low in these contracts awarded by the government.
The price of this contract was raised in November by the previous Conservative government and the new Labour executive has “I increased the budget by 50%” for the new call for tenders, the Ministry of Energy argued in its press release. “Offshore wind is back in British waters” (…) with nine contracts awarded » including in particular the “Europe’s largest park projects, Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4, off the Yorkshire coast”he added.
“World leader”
The approximately 5 GW of offshore wind turbines announced on Tuesday “Of course, they are welcome, but this is only about half of what is needed each year to achieve this.” The government’s objectives regarding offshore wind energy, highlighted Ami McCarthy, from the NGO Greenpeace.
The new Labour government launched its major green energy plan in July, with the ambition of making the UK a “world leader” thanks in particular to a new public company, Great British Energy. Endowed with 8.3 billion pounds (9.9 billion euros) of public money over five years, it will be responsible for investing in floating wind turbines, tidal energy and nuclear energy.
Coming to power in early July, Keir Starmer’s Labour government lifted what it saw as a “de facto ban” on the construction of new onshore wind farms in England, where opposition from some local residents could block the projects.
