Following the news of the Prime Minister's expected announcement this evening on the Duddon Sands Offshore Windfarm approval, Chris Tomlinson, BWEA Director of Programme Strategy, said:

"This is a real feather in the cap for the wind industry, signalling the climax to a 'summer of consents' with a record of over 2,000MW of approved projects since May. Powering the annual average needs of approximately 1.3 million homes, this is further evidence of the wind industry leading the UK to a clean, secure and sustainable energy future.

"Our congratulations go to Scottish Power Renewables, Eurus Energy Ltd and Dong Energy who in developing this landmark offshore project through to consent, continue to show the world that the UK is truly the market leader for offshore wind energy."

Commenting on the approval, Secretary of State John Hutton said: "Companies want to build here because we have made the UK one of the most attractive places to invest in offshore wind."

"BWEA is particularly pleased that such a strong drive to secure Britain's sustainable energy future is coinciding with our 30th anniversary year and coming ahead of our BWEA30 conference, the biggest event in the renewable energy calendar," said Tomlinson.

For details of BWEA's 2008 events, visit www.bwea.com/events