The UK government has awarded subsidies to 190 renewable energy projects, including the largest onshore windfarm in England for over a decade. The Imerys project near St Austell in Cornwall is set to generate electricity at 20 megawatts, dwarfed by many Scottish onshore windfarms that secured contracts in the auction.
The government's move comes as part of its efforts to create a virtually zero-carbon power grid within four years. Labour aims to achieve this goal and has attempted to revive the onshore wind industry, which collapsed after an almost decade-long ban on new projects.
According to Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, clean British power is the right choice for the country, agreeing prices that are more than 50% cheaper than building and operating gas. The subsidy prices for solar farms will be £65.23 per megawatt hour in 2024, while onshore windfarms will earn £72.24/MWh.
However, the rising cost of wind power reflects changing macroeconomic conditions and supply chain pressures. The "new normal" for large-scale onshore renewables has been revealed, with prices no longer expected to fall. Despite this, onshore wind and solar remain the cheapest large-scale renewables available, well below those offered to offshore windfarms.
The support prices are well below those secured by Scottish onshore windfarms, which will earn between £89.49/MWh and £91.20/MWh. Miliband stated that backing solar and onshore wind at scale is driving bills down for good, protecting families, businesses, and the country from the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates and dictators.
In total, the government's new renewable energy contracts will supply enough electricity to power 16 million UK homes. The winners were informed three weeks after the government awarded subsidy contracts to enough offshore windfarms to power 12m homes by the end of the decade.
The government's move comes as part of its efforts to create a virtually zero-carbon power grid within four years. Labour aims to achieve this goal and has attempted to revive the onshore wind industry, which collapsed after an almost decade-long ban on new projects.
According to Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, clean British power is the right choice for the country, agreeing prices that are more than 50% cheaper than building and operating gas. The subsidy prices for solar farms will be £65.23 per megawatt hour in 2024, while onshore windfarms will earn £72.24/MWh.
However, the rising cost of wind power reflects changing macroeconomic conditions and supply chain pressures. The "new normal" for large-scale onshore renewables has been revealed, with prices no longer expected to fall. Despite this, onshore wind and solar remain the cheapest large-scale renewables available, well below those offered to offshore windfarms.
The support prices are well below those secured by Scottish onshore windfarms, which will earn between £89.49/MWh and £91.20/MWh. Miliband stated that backing solar and onshore wind at scale is driving bills down for good, protecting families, businesses, and the country from the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates and dictators.
In total, the government's new renewable energy contracts will supply enough electricity to power 16 million UK homes. The winners were informed three weeks after the government awarded subsidy contracts to enough offshore windfarms to power 12m homes by the end of the decade.