U.K. offshore wind plan making huge waves

I've seen some pretty sensational headlines concerning the U.K.'s new wind-power plan, and I wanted to try and clear up some of the fog.

One headline states that every home in the U.K. could be powered by wind in 2020, another says half of the U.K.'s power will come from wind by 2020. Both sound like good news ... but which is it?

Here's what it is: Gordon Brown's business secretary, John Hutton, announced that the Brown government is planning on opening 100% of the UK's coastline to wind development (excepting where it would interfere with shipping or fishing).

That statement, followed by a long series of "if"s, gets you to 33 gigawatts of wind by 2020. Those ifs include:

• If the plan survives political attack and
• If the plan dodges lawsuits from property owners and fishermen and
• If wind developers choose to develop the open area and
• If wind developers can put distribution lines in place (without lawsuits) and
• If development begins immediately and
• If the opened lands are developed to capacity and
• If they can do it all by 2020

Then the U.K. will have 33 gigawatts of wind power online by 2020.

During peak output, these turbines would be able to power every home in the U.K. Which is another way of saying, just under half of the U.K.'s power consumption.

I hope I didn't make that more confusing, and I also hope I didn't dash anyone's dreams. But let's be realistic: 2020 is pretty soon, and 33 gigawatts of capacity is a lot to add to any system.

Undoubtedly, this plan will take the U.K. to a new level of renewable energy, and it is extremely exciting. We'll keep a close eye on it as it progresses. Congratulations to the British!

Via the BBC and The Times