At a cinema in the heart of London’s West End, a short film on the potential of renewable energy was screened for the first time on Global Wind Day, 15 June. British TV personality Bill Oddie presented the film, which aims to tell the public about the environmental and economic benefits of wind and other renewables.

“The goal was to normalise renewable energy”, he said.

Maria McCaffery, CEO of RenewableUK , which organised the film and screening, stressed that  “we have to translate the case for renewables into everyday language”.

In the documentary, entitled ‘Oddie’s Odyssey’, the presenter points out how public acceptance for wind farms grows once the wind farm is in place, citing the Lambrigg wind farm where 60% of those who were originally against became fans of the turbines once they were up. The screening marked the launch of a new grassroots renewables campaign in the UK called ‘Action for Renewables’.

In her welcoming speech McCaffery also pointed out the UK’s huge renewables potential.

“There are few reasons to be thankful for our weather in Britain, but once of them is that this cold, wet and windy island has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world”, she said.

She drew the audience’s attention to the fact that events were taking place around the world for Global Wind Day.

What else went on for Global Wind Day? Read EWEA’s other blog posts: www.ewea.org/blog.

More on Global Wind Day: www.globalwindday.org