Onshore wind farms could save consumers £1.6bn on energy bills
UK consumers could save up to £1.6bn on their energy bills if the government backs the construction of more onshore wind farms.
According to The Times, new renewable energy projects could offer electricity more cheaply at current market prices, relieving households of rising energy bills.
Despite the advantages, since 2015 there has been a dearth of support for wind energy from government.
The Committee on Climate Change said ministers should come clean on the higher energy bills households would face if the government does not back the construction of more onshore wind farms.
There are approximately 7,000 onshore wind turbines in the UK capable of generating up to 12 gigawatts of power.
Before 2015, they were commercially viable thanks to subsidies from the government, but there are now over four gigawatts-worth of more projects - involving an estimated 1,800 turbines - which have planning consent but cannot move forward until the government provides funding.
Lord Deben, the chair of the committee on climate change (CCC), told The Guardian wind energy is the cheapest form of electricity generation and there was no logical argument against them in those parts of the UK that want them, such as Scotland.
He added that these projects could help the UK meet its carbon targets for 2025-2030 and cut consumers' energy bills.
"If you don’t build onshore wind, the government has to say how much of an extra cost this is to the public," Deben said.