Government 'should reassess stance' on wind power

Onshore windfarms could be built in the UK for the same cost as new gas power stations and nearly half as much as that of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, new analysis of the sector has shown.

Windfarm technology has become so inexpensive that developers could deliver turbines for a price of power so low that it would effectively be subsidy-free in terms of the impact on household energy bills, professional services firm Arup.

EDF, the largely state owned French utility company was awarded the Hinkley contract at £92.50 per megawatt hour, roughly twice the price of wholesale electricity.

However, Arup's report stated that windfarms could deliver electricity for just £50-55 per megawatt hour over 15 years.

Chief operating officer of Arup, Keith Anderson, told the Guardian that onshore wind could help Britain meet its climate targets, as it was proven in its ability to be easily delivered , and was "phenomenally competitive" in terms of pricing.

“If you want to control the cost of energy, and deliver energy to consumers and to businesses across the UK at the most competitive price, why would you not want to use this technology? This report demonstrates it’s at the leading edge of efficiency,” he said.

The government banned onshore windfarms from competing for subsidies and imposed several new planning hurdles back in 2015, something ScottishPower, who commissioned the study, hopes to persuade the government to reconsider.

Many industry insiders saw the Tory manifesto as a softening of the party's position regarding onshore wind. Although it stated that the party did not believe in "more large-scale onshore wind power" for England, it did not mention Wales or Scotland, which are listed as some of the most effective sites.