BT to install its own wind farms

BT yesterday unveiled plans to build the UK's biggest wind power project outside of the energy sector, amid claims the new wind farms would generate up to a quarter of its existing UK electricity requirements by 2016.

Shortages of renewable energy have hampered many firms' attempts to procure green power. However, BT said the £250m project would help it "safeguard future supplies".

The company is currently identifying high wind-yield site on or adjacent to BT-owned land for the proposed turbines and has already submitted planning permission applications for 10 masts at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall, Wideford Hill Radio Station in Orkney and Scousburgh Radio Station in Shetland.

Annually, BT consumes around 0.7 per cent of the UK's energy, but the company said that the new wind farms could generate up to 250Mw of power, enough for 122,000 homes, and prevent the release of 500,000 tons of CO2 a year.

Hanif Lalani, BT group finance director, said the project would play "an important part" in the company's commitment to cut its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2016.

The move was welcomed by business and enterprise secretary John Hutton, who urged other companies to develop similar schemes.

"BT's initiative is a great example of how businesses can contribute and help us meet our ambitious target to dramatically increase the amount of energy we get from renewable sources," he said.