Environmental analysis: 'Periods of no wind are irrelevant to wind power'

Periods of high pressure and no wind make no difference if the amount of energy produced using wind farms is still significant over the course of the year, an environmental spokesperson has suggested.

Nick Medic of Renewable UK indicated that if wind energy can produce enough power in a 12 month period it is worth using as times of low wind can be averaged out.

"It doesn't matter if you get different figures on an average annual basis you are still getting a third of your electricity from a carbon neutral fuel," he said.

His comments follow the Hartwell Paper's criticism of wind energy as a sufficient contributor to electricity during periods of cold weather.

The paper, published last week by 14 environmental academics, claimed that between January 4th and 7th wind contributed 0.6 per cent to the National Grid.

Last week, The Crown Estate announced the extension of offshore wind farms. It is believed that the energy produced by this extension will be sufficient to provide 1.4 million homes with power every year.

Posted by Lauren Steadman