Britain plugged in to its vast natural wind power potential today with the launch of the country's first major offshore wind farm, off the North Wales coast.

The pioneering development has been built 4-5 miles off the coast of Rhyl and Prestatyn and will generate enough clean electricity for up to 50,000 homes each year.

Backed by Tony Blair and environmental group Greenpeace, the wind farm has been developed by npower renewables, sister company to npower, who supplies renewable energy to more UK households than anyone else.

Built in just eight months, the 30-turbine wind farm will prevent the release of about 160,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every year - which is equivalent to removing some 80,000 average cars from our roads.

Alan Moore, Managing Director of npower renewables said, "All too often people think of the big issues like global warming and feel powerless to do anything about it. With North Hoyle and the clean electricity it generates for npower Juice, we can help people make a difference. For every unit of electricity a Juice customer uses from the electricity grid, we will replace that with energy from North Hoyle - effectively helping to reduce the greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. This is a fantastic day for renewable energy and Wales has every right to be proud. The North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm and npower Juice are leading the way in this new era of clean electricity generation. This is a first for Wales and a first for Great Britain." he said.

Stephen Tindale, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK said North Hoyle's construction marks an important first step towards a cleaner future for the UK. He said: "This is the beginning of mainstream offshore wind power development and the dawn of a new era. Global warming is the greatest threat facing the planet, but the power flowing ashore today demonstrates we have the solutions to tackle it. It's great news for all our futures."

Energy Minister Stephen Timms also gave his backing saying: "I visited North Hoyle earlier this year and saw for myself the wind farm under construction. I think everybody understands that we do have to change the way that we consume and generate electricity and this is a very welcome and very important step in the right direction."

In an address to be broadcast at the 'switch-on' of the wind farm, the Prime Minister congratulated those involved in the project. "Rolling out this first large-scale offshore wind venture is a highly significant step toward achieving Britain's renewables targets. We are on course for a future that can be transformed by the use of clean forms of energy," he said.

npower Juice Fund launched to boost future green energy projects

npower and Greenpeace today also announced the creation of the "npower Juice Fund", designed to encourage projects in other renewable energy fields such as wave and tidal energy.

npower will make a contribution of £10 for every customer of 12 months standing, up to a maximum of £500,000 per year. The fund will be used throughout the UK to help support research into new renewable technologies.

North Hoyle was developed by npower renewables, part of the RWE Group, Britain's largest producer of renewable energy.

For further information contact:

• Karen Jones, PR Manager, npower renewables
  T: 07989 493165
• Niall Bennett, Greenpeace press office
  T: 020 7865 8162 or 020 786 58255

Editors Notes

1. North Hoyle was constructed by a consortium comprising Vestas Celtic Wind Technology and Mayflower Energy, both UK-based companies. Approximately 85% of the capital expenditure of North Hoyle has been placed with companies based in the UK. Further details about the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm can be found at www.npower-renewables.com/northhoyle
2. In addition to npower Juice, in June 2002 npower also announced a partnership with the UK's leading solar company Solar Century to look into developing solar energy 'accounts' for domestic and business electricity users. To register for npower Juice, consumers anywhere in the UK can telephone the hotline on 0800 316 2610 or log on to www.SwitchtoJuice.com
3. npower is one of the UK's largest energy providers supplying gas, electricity, home maintenance, warranty and conveyancing services to over 6 million customers anywhere in the UK mainland.
4. Greenpeace is an independent non-profit global campaigning organisation that uses creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and their causes. It researches the solutions and alternatives to help provide a path for a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace does not financially benefit from Juice.
5. npower renewables has developed the leading position in the UK wind power market and is the developer and operator of the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm. Formed in August 1991, the company is also a subsidiary of RWE. Our team of over 80 professional staff have extensive experience of both onshore and offshore wind farm development and management in the UK.
6. While North Hoyle was being constructed Juice was sourced from existing onshore wind sources and a hydro plant based in Dolgarrog in the Snowdonia Mountains, which uses the plentiful natural supply of water to generate electricity. As a Juice customer, for every unit of electricity you use, a unit of Juice electricity is purchased by npower on your behalf. This means that although the electricity you receive is no different to normal electricity, it is ensured that an equivalent amount of electricity to that which you use is generated from clean, renewable sources.
7. Numerous studies indicate that in theory offshore wind could supply the total UK electricity requirement. In addition, the skills acquired over the decades in the oil and gas industry make the UK uniquely positioned to exploit this abundant renewable resource, with substantial potential for job creation in the new industry.
8. One of the major causes of global warming and climate change is the emission of large volumes of the gas carbon dioxide (CO₂), resulting from, amongst other things, the generation of electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. Every unit of electricity generated from the wind, however, whether on land or at sea, takes the place of a unit that would otherwise have been generated by a fossil fuel power station, thus helping to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change.

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