Britain confirms record budget for green power

Cleaning up: A wind turbine turns behind terraced houses in Dagenham in east London. The United Kingdom wants to restore its position as a global leader for green technologies and deliver the infrastructure needed to boost its energy independence. — AFP

LONDON: The United Kingdom will allocate a record £1.5bil (US$1.9bil) to support new renewable power capacity in an upcoming auction, a crucial step as the government works to eliminate carbon emissions from its grid.

The beefed-up budget includes £1.1bil for offshore wind farms and confirms a report by Bloomberg News. It comes after an auction last year failed to attract bidders because the guaranteed power price was too low.