Adam Bell
2011 was a record breaking year for wind energy deployment and generation. At the end of the year wind energy installed capacity passed the 6 gigawatt milestone, and on 28 December wind energy alone was meeting a record 12.2% of the UK’s demand for electricity. The industry employs over 10,000 people already, and the number is growing.
These achievements add weight to the already compelling argument that wind energy and other forms of renewables are no longer an ‘alternative’ source of energy, but form an integral part of our energy mix.
However, this unprecedented growth and success has inevitably brought with it greater scrutiny of the economic impact of renewables.
