The pump storage hydro scheme is designed to "soak up" excess power generated by wind and wave farms, using it to pump water up to a reservoir.

BBC: Highland councillors support Lochaber hydro plan

As more turbines are approved, the National Grid is legally obliged to extend the power infrastructure - and that's why there are plans for pylons and a sub-station to be built in Powys so that the power generated by wind farms is taken to the rest of the country.

BBC: What are the wind power issues?

If the wind intensifies very quickly, the amount of power generated by the wind turbines increases rapidly, injecting excess power into the generation system.

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In years past, the search giant has signed power purchase agreements with wind developers to buy the electricity generated by their projects.

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Using electricity generated by the wind, "Delmarva Power will be able to light about 50, 000 homes a year, every year" for the duration of the 25-year contract, Lanard said, with first power expected by 2012.

CNN: Wind farm to be built off Delaware shore

One, labouring under the term of "contracts for difference", is a mechanism under which the government will guarantee a price that energy firms can obtain for producing and selling electricity generated either by wind farms or new nuclear power stations.

BBC: Energy Bill: Will companies now build new power plants?

This amounts to more than 20 times more for subsidies in terms of average electricity generated by coal and natural gas, while coal produces 50 times more U.S. electrical power than wind.

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