Renewable energy accounted for 8.6 per cent of total electricity produced in the UK in the three months to September, according to the latest data released from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The contribution is the highest made by renewable energy sector and are close to government’s target for 10 per cent from the sector by 2010. The wind energy grew 36.9 per cent in the third quarter. The proportion of wind, hydro power and other sources grew 23.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

A spokesperson for the trade association for the Renewable UK said: "This shows that we as an industry were right all along in promoting the potential of this technology and advocating that wind can make a serious contribution to the UK's electricity supply."

Rapid Electronics is the leading supplier of renewable energy in the country while Mitsubishi has already announced plans to invest about £100 million into a wind turbine manufacturing site off the coast of Scotland.