There are many reasons to support the development of wind energy in the UK, here are a few:

• It is a cleaner way to produce electricity; wind energy does not produce any harmful emissions during operation
• The wind is free compared with rising fossil fuel prices and potential difficulties associated with fuel availability
• The UK is the windiest country in Europe
• No matter how much wind we use today, there will still be the same supply in the future
• Wind energy is projected to be the cheapest form of electricity by 2020. (Source: Sustainable Development Commission)
• At the end of the operational life of a windfarm, it is easy to decommission the installation and return the land to its former use.

Government approach / policies for renewable energy

In March 2007, the European Union member states agreed to adopt a binding target of 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020 (Directive 2009/28/EC). This target includes all energy consumption and is not restricted to electricity. The contribution which will come from the UK (i.e. the target level for the UK) has been set at 15% of UK energy needs (including electricity, heat and transport) to be met from renewable sources by 2020.

The Scottish Government has set the ambitious target of having the equivalent of 100% of demand for electricity generated by renewable sources by 2020 and renewable energy developers are working extremely hard to achieve this.