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| Climate change: Offshore wind expands at record low price | Climate change: Offshore wind expands at record low price |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A record amount of new offshore wind power has been announced in the UK. | |
| The new projects will power more than seven million homes at a lower-than-expected cost. | |
| The government says the wind farms represent a breakthrough, typically generating electricity without subsidy. | The government says the wind farms represent a breakthrough, typically generating electricity without subsidy. |
| Environmentalists are delighted - but they warn ministers are failing to tackle more difficult challenges such as driving and home heating. | Environmentalists are delighted - but they warn ministers are failing to tackle more difficult challenges such as driving and home heating. |
| They point out that electricity usage forms just 15% of household energy consumption - behind petrol, diesel and gas. | |
| Friday's announcement offers a guaranteed price to firms willing to take the risk of installing costly offshore wind turbines in projects set to be delivered by 2025. | Friday's announcement offers a guaranteed price to firms willing to take the risk of installing costly offshore wind turbines in projects set to be delivered by 2025. |
| The cheapest operator will provide power for as low as £40 per megawatt hour. | |
| By comparison, power from Hinkley Point C - the new nuclear power station in Somerset also due to open in 2025 - is expected to cost £92.50 per megawatt hour. | By comparison, power from Hinkley Point C - the new nuclear power station in Somerset also due to open in 2025 - is expected to cost £92.50 per megawatt hour. |
| John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: "Today's news makes arguing for the massive public subsidies nuclear power requires a much harder task." | John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: "Today's news makes arguing for the massive public subsidies nuclear power requires a much harder task." |
| The government anticipates the overall wholesale electricity price will range between £48.95 in 2023-24 to £52.36 per megawatt hour in 2026-27. | The government anticipates the overall wholesale electricity price will range between £48.95 in 2023-24 to £52.36 per megawatt hour in 2026-27. |
| The cost of offshore wind has plummeted about 30% in the last two years. | |
| 'Impossible is becoming possible' | 'Impossible is becoming possible' |
| It has astonished observers like Emily Beament, environment correspondent for the PA news agency. | |
| She tweeted: "Two years ago I nearly fell off my chair at the low cost of new offshore wind power. I was more sanguine this time… then it happens again." | She tweeted: "Two years ago I nearly fell off my chair at the low cost of new offshore wind power. I was more sanguine this time… then it happens again." |
| Greenpeace campaigner Kaisa Kosonen tweeted: "Impossible is becoming possible in front of our very eyes." | Greenpeace campaigner Kaisa Kosonen tweeted: "Impossible is becoming possible in front of our very eyes." |
| For more facts about how our energy consumption needs to change to help fight climate change, download your BBC Briefing on energy. BBC Briefing is a new mini-series of online guides to the key issues in the news. | For more facts about how our energy consumption needs to change to help fight climate change, download your BBC Briefing on energy. BBC Briefing is a new mini-series of online guides to the key issues in the news. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The UK is leading the way in the fight against climate change, and it's great news that millions more homes will be powered by clean energy at record low prices. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The UK is leading the way in the fight against climate change, and it's great news that millions more homes will be powered by clean energy at record low prices. |
| "Seizing the opportunities of clean energy not only helps to protect our planet, but will also back businesses and boost jobs." | "Seizing the opportunities of clean energy not only helps to protect our planet, but will also back businesses and boost jobs." |
| His critics point out that de-carbonising the electricity sector is accepted as the easy part of tackling climate change. | His critics point out that de-carbonising the electricity sector is accepted as the easy part of tackling climate change. |
| The government the has been repeatedly criticised by MPs for failing to curb emissions from transport and homes - and for not acknowledging that to curb climate change, many drivers need to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or go by public transport. | The government the has been repeatedly criticised by MPs for failing to curb emissions from transport and homes - and for not acknowledging that to curb climate change, many drivers need to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or go by public transport. |
| Follow Roger on Twitter | Follow Roger on Twitter |