Rick Eggleston: Wind power is a success story that needs to be told

LAST year was a strong one for the wind sector, with significant industry activity. According to the latest figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), in the third quarter of 2011, 9 per cent of UK electricity demand was met by renewables, up by a percentage point on the same quarter of 2010.

Though the industry continued to receive criticism for being “too expensive” compared with fossil fuels, Bloomberg’s report issued in November confirmed otherwise. The report showed that global rising gas prices and falling average wind energy prices will reach parity as soon as 2016. By 2020, the cost to consumers of support for large-scale renewables will be less than £2 per week – just £48, or 3.5 per cent, of the projected annual energy bill of £1,379.

The cost of wind power generation continues to fall, which will have a positive effect on consumer electricity bills. This is largely down to increasing supply chain efficiencies which are fuelling the trend towards cost-cutting. The offshore wind sector is also more competitive, and the government has challenged the sector to reduce its costs to £100/MWh by 2020.

Attaining planning consent, building a robust grid infrastructure and securing finance will remain key challenges throughout 2012, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Beauly to Denny line is making good progress. Banks are opening up more finance options – some are investing in their own wind projects, suggesting the industry recognises wind as a good investment. We are also seeing advancement in defence radar issues which may help with some consents – a new system has been developed, approved and successfully tested by the MoD.

One of the key, ongoing challenges in 2012, for government and industry, is to win the hearts and minds of the public. The media has at times criticised the viability of wind energy generation. Some reports have been factually inaccurate, others have been “agenda based” and therefore heavily biased. It is up to the industry to take up the mantle and present a more balanced, factually based argument to the public.

• Rick Eggleston is managing director of REpower UK