By Barney Rhys Jones, Managing Director, Good Energy

Back in June we reported on the Crown Estate applying to lease the sea bed (which they own) to energy companies for offshore wind contracts. Well after many hurdles we are pleased to report that nine new zone licences have been granted that will add 32 gigawatts of new renewables to the grid. When the new power comes online in 2020 that will provide around a quarter of the UK’s electricity demand. 

What is particularly pleasing is that for once the wind industry has been given more than expected, as the anticipated allowance was 25 gigawatts.

The leases will create one of the largest wind networks in the world and represent a significant engineering challenge. It’s a challenge we are delighted to see approached head on. 

Providing licensing is a vital step by the labour government as the UK are facing pressing EU deadlines of generating 15% of our energy from renewables by 2015. Even the Prime Minister got involved, estimating that the projects would deliver a £75bn boost to the economy and some 70,000 jobs created. 

The Crown Estate have reported stiff competition for the contracts which reflects the growing power of wind in attracting serious investment. This willingness to invest in wind power highlights the fact that more must be done to lower the barriers to wind onshore. There are organisations, like ourselves, queuing up to invest in building wind farms. Our main obstacle is red tape, which makes no sense when our country desperately needs to bridge the energy gap and to decarbonise our economy. 

The government must allow us to build.