An investment bonanza was triggered this week when John Sutton, the UK energy secretary, announced “plans to build enough turbines to generate nearly half Britain’s current electricity consumption.”

The government plans to open the whole of Britain’s continental shelf to development, apart from areas vital for shipping and fishing. The announcement, made in Berlin tomorrow, states the UK government’s intention to see targets raised to 33GW-worth of wind turbines installed in the seas around Britain by 2020. If energy consumption remains stable this would mean wind power could supply the electricity needs of every home in Britain.