³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Nearly 30% of the UK's electricity is planned to be generated by wind power by 2030, under a new deal announced by the government.

The move will help the UK towards an aim of getting almost all of its power from low-carbon sources.

The plan will see the offshore wind industry invest £250 million over the next 11 years. The government says it will create thousands of jobs.

Last year, on and offshore wind turbines provided 17% of the UK's energy needs.

Some environmentalists are wondering where the other 70% of the UK's clean electricity will come from.

The government had predicted that 30% of electricity would come from offshore wind, 30% from nuclear and 30% from gas power stations with technology to capture its carbon emissions and bury them.

It is now confirmed that wind will achieve its 30% by 2030, but plans to expand nuclear are unclear. And there isn't a 'gas with carbon capture' plant ready yet.

Wind power or wind energy is the process that uses wind to generate mechanical power or electricity.

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy - caused by movement generated by the wind - into mechanical power.

This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water), or can be converted into electricity by a generator.

Offshore wind has become an increasingly affordable source of clean energy in the UK.