Much of that green power will come from wind farms.

But finding acceptable sites for all those turbines could prove difficult.

Opposition

While many are springing up on land-based sites - and some are even becoming tourist attractions - proposals for offshore farms are proving less popular.

Surfers are worried about the impact

The Crown Estate has made available 18 sites around the UK coastline, though each project needs to gain approval.

Some are accepted by residents - others are causing a stink.

There's been strong opposition to schemes for wind farms in the Solway Bay and off Portstewart, near the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Job creation

In Porthcawl in south Wales, a pressure group called SOS Porthcawl has been set up to oppose plans for a wind farm four miles out to sea.

The proposal is for 30 turbines on Scarweather Sands, each 453 feet high.

It could provide enough energy for more than 40,000 homes.

The production of the turbines could also create 130 jobs - they are made in Wales at Bangor and more could be produced at Port Talbot.

Tourism

But SOS Porthcawl says the turbines will be noisy and visible from beauty spots, which would deter tourists.

"It's environmentally insensitive to put them here," says the campaign's Bob Wilks.

Bob Wilks: "It's insensitive"

"And there's a potentially devastating effect on tourism - the tourist board is far from happy."

The group is sceptical about claims that the impact will be minimal because the turbines are bigger than any used before.

Environment

There are also fears that the farm will have an impact on the sea, changing the shape of the sandbanks and waves in an area popular with surfers.

"You're putting an enormous amount of concrete where the waves come from so you're in a sense building a harbour wall," says surfing instructor Simon Tucker.

Simon: Environmentalist

"At the very best it will have a detrimental impact on the surf and surfing can contribute enormously to tourism in this area."

Campaigners have collected 8,000 signatures on a petition against the scheme.

They will soon have a chance to put their case, as the Welsh Assembly environment minister has ordered a public inquiry into the �120m plan.

Fears unfounded

United Utilities, the company behind the scheme, says fears about the wind farm are unfounded.

Neil: Cost effective

It says this site is the only one which meets the criteria for building the turbines.

It is surprised there is to be an inquiry before it has had a chance to respond to objections, but is confident its case will stand up to public scrutiny.

But the proposal does have its supporters.

Friends of the Earth Cymru are in favour of alternative energy projects and argue that fears about the Porthcawl scheme are unfounded.

It claims SOS Porthcawl are dismissing the plan out of hand without offering an alternative.

Accusations

"People are not giving them a chance," says the group's Neil Crumpton. "There's a lot of misleading information about."

He insists that the wind turbines "are cost effective and environmentally very friendly".

But the pressure group denies accusations of nimby-ism - not wanting them in their own back garden.

Bob Wilks says he doesn't want them in anyone's back yard, not just his own.

And as Simon Tucker, who says he considers himself "more of an environmentalist" points out, "this is a huge back garden".