OPPONENTS of North Wales wind turbines were dealt a blow when a study showed Britain had the best wind in Europe. Academics at Oxford University said wind power was well placed to meet periods of peak demand on the National Grid. But the study said bills would have to rise by 2.5% if the government wanted 10% of the nation's power to be wind-generated. The research follows a public outcry at Welsh Assembly plans for hundreds of turbines across North Wales. It established seven strategic sites for large-scale windfarms across Wales, almost doubling the existing 400 turbines. Areas earmarked for the next generation of projects include the Clocaenog Forest in Denbighshire; north of Carno and south of Newtown, Powys; and Nant-y-Moch, near Machnylleth. There are also plans for a 200-turbine Gwynt-y-Môr scheme off Colwyn Bay, while Npower has been given planning permission for the 30-turbine Rhyl Flats, off Abergele. The study, commissioned by the government, assessed national wind patterns by collecting hourly windspeed records at 66 meteorological stations. It discovered that during the last 35 years the wind has always blown strongly enough - faster than four meters per second - to generate electricity in some parts of Britain. The study, led by Graham Sinden of the Environmental Change Institute, also confirmed the wind blows more strongly during winter when energy demands are greatest. | 
