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The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is set to change its name this spring, and is to be re-branded as RenewableUK.

The name and logo change was overwhelmingly approved by the association"s membership at their annual AGM recently. The reason for the change in name follows a sudden growth in membership for the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) from renewable sectors other than wind, such as tidal and wave, Solar etc, over the past five years.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) says that the new name will make it “more instantly recognised, more memorable and stronger in its terms of identity and perceived purpose".

Chairman for the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) and global head of Corporate Affairs at Mainstream Renewable Power Adam Bruce, added that; “This development is essential and will aid us in implementing our vision to be the voice of authority for the renewable power sector and a credible source of information and knowledge for our members, the industry, Government, media and the public."

The change of name also means that the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) will now have a name that more closely resembles that of the Renewable Energy Association (REA), which has 600 members and which also promotes sustainable energy throughout the United Kingdom (UK). The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has 544 corporate members, and under its new name, says that its primary purpose is now "to promote the use of renewable power in and around the United Kingdom (UK), both onshore and offshore."

The two trade associations had reportedly talked about merging, but those negotiations are understood to have floundered quite quickly. Yet a spokesperson from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) would not confirm whether or not the two groups might yet merge sometime in the future?

Chief executive for the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), Maria McCaffery, said that the association had taken "a number of important steps" in the run up to the name change, including expanding its policy, communications and events teams in line with growth and diversification of its membership base, and moving its offices to Westminster.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) was formed in 1978 as a trade and professional body for the United Kingdom"s (UK"s) growing wind industry. It began representing companies from the wave and tidal energy sectors around five years ago.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) says that the timetable for the full implementation of the new branding of the association will be completed and implemented by this coming March (2010).