UK Wind Industry Lowers Carbon Savings Claims

December 23, 2008

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The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK told the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) that it must tone down claims that wind turbines reduce CO2 emissions.

The wind industry trade group had suggested that turbines save 860g of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of power generated, compared to conventional power stations.

The claim is part of wind developers’ efforts to persuade planners to support wind projects and quell opposition to wind power that cites the negative impact of turbines, writes New Energy Focus.

But the ASA said that the figure is closer to 430g, considering that when gas is cheaper – as it was last year – more power stations use it, bringing the savings closer to 400g (vs. the 860g of coal-fired stations).

The comparison, they said, should reflect whichever power plants would be replaced by the wind turbines over the course of a year.

Still, the figure provided by the ASA is “on the conservative side,” said a BWEA spokesman, and will be revisited in the New Year.

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