Every household in Britain could be powered by off-shore wind farms by 2020 under plans being announced by the Government.

With the equivalent of two turbines to every mile, up to 7,000 turbines could be installed around the UK's coastline in a bid to boost the wind energy produced 60-fold.

Currently, just 2 per cent of Britain's power comes from renewables, and wind is the source for less than half a gigawatt. By 2020 the Government hopes that it could provide around 33 gigawatts.

Business Secretary John Hutton insisted the "step change" had to be made to effect the shift to low carbon power sources.

Mr Hutton said: "There is the potential, we believe, out there, using the resources that there are around the UK to generate maybe all of the electricity that households need... from offshore wind sources.

"We should see whether we can maximise that potential because it's obviously in the nation's interest, in the world's interest, for us to make sure that more of our energy comes from clean sources."

Asked whether having a wind installation every half-mile around the coast was acceptable, Mr Hutton replied: "It is going to change our coastline, yes for sure.

"There's no way of making the shift to low carbon technology without making a change and that change being visible to people."

He added: "I do not want, in 20 years' time, to find that the question of whether the lights go on in the morning is down to some foreign government or someone else," he added.

About eight gigawatts of capacity could be operational by 2014, including the one gigawatt London Array, the biggest offshore wind farm in the world.

Friends of the Earth renewable energy campaigner Nick Rau said the potential for wind power is "enormous".

"Making Britain a world leader in this form of energy will create jobs, boost the economy and help put Britain at the forefront in the battle to combat climate change."

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