UK ups the ante for offshore wind energy

The British government opened a major new phase yesterday in its drive for renewable energy, calling for bids to build up to 25 gigawatts of offshore wind turbines, triple the amount in the pipeline.

The announcement by the government agency, the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed around Britain, was welcomed by British Wind Energy Association chairman Adam Bruce as "impressively bold.

Under rounds one and two of offshore renewable power generation leasing program, a total of eight gigawatts of wind turbines are under development.