The government plans to create 45,000 jobs and generate 27–29GW of electricity by reforming the planning procedure and investing in new technologies for onshore wind farms.
Restrictions were placed on new onshore developments in 2015. They meant that any local opposition to new developments would effectively veto planning permission, or cause major bottlenecks in the proposal, effectively acting as a ban on onshore wind projects until Labour removed these restrictions shortly after the General Election in 2024.
Now, the first ever onshore wind strategy, to be published today (4 July), will set out 40 actions to “get onshore wind building again across the UK”.
These action points will look to improve existing wind farms, as well as opening the door for future developments.
Old turbines that are not operational but safe will be repowered to keep up the current supply of clean energy, while planners and developers will be given guidance and tools to speed up development planning and streamline future decision making.
The changes will reinstate onshore wind into the infrastructure projects regime on the same footing as offshore wind and nuclear projects, streamlining the planning and consent process to ensure projects get built as quickly as possible.
The government has committed to doubling onshore wind capacity and quadrupling offshore wind by 2030. These plans will make it easier and faster for developers to meet this target.
Labour estimates that the development of new onshore wind farms will support 45,000 jobs throughout the supply chain by 2030. Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Rolling out more onshore wind is a no-brainer – it’s one of our cheapest technologies, quick to build, supports thousands of skilled jobs and can provide clean energy directly to the communities hosting it.
“After years of decline, we’re giving industry the tools to get building again, backing industrial renewal and secure, clean, homegrown energy”
Communities are set to benefit too with the voluntary community benefits scheme being updated to provide communities in England with £5,000 per megawatt per year for community initiatives like football pitches or libraries, or bill discount schemes for households.
The onshore wind plan comes after the announcement of the 10-year Clean Energy Industries sector plan announced as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy.
The sector plan saw announcements like a £700 billion increase in funding for Great British Energy, increasing funding for clean energy supply chains to £1.7 billion, as well as a £1 billion Clean Energy Supply Chain Fund that will be used to support businesses in the chain to scale, producing a more stable environment for development and boosting investor confidence.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho MP said: “Ed Miliband’s obsession with climate targets means he’s making our energy unreliable and expensive. No country in the world relies just on the wind and the sun. He is shutting down the North Sea, concreting our gas wells and he’s downgraded our plans for nuclear. All this means is that families’ energy bills are going to go through the roof, and we’ll just end up importing more from coal-powered China.
“The US security services have already warned us that Chinese wind turbines could pose serious risks to our national security, but he won’t do a China audit. Ed wants to hit Net Zero targets no matter the cost to the British public.”
Vattenfall’s Head of UK Regulatory Affairs and member of the Onshore Wind Taskforce, Lisa Christie, said: “This Government’s renewed focus on unlocking the potential of onshore wind is essential for the UK’s energy security, reducing bills, and economic growth.”
While RenewableUK’s Head of Onshore Wind Delivery, James Robottom, said: “Overturning the unpopular onshore wind ban, which deprived us of one of the quickest and cheapest technologies to build for a decade, was just the start.
“The hard work to make the most of this great opportunity to grow our economy and strengthen the UK’s energy security is now in full swing.”
Featured image via Kathphotos / Shutterstock.
