The UK government has introduced its first-ever Onshore Wind Strategy, outlining more than 40 measures aimed at revitalising the sector and contributing to its Clean Power 2030 target of reaching 27 to 29 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity.
The strategy is intended to unlock up to 10GW of delayed or stalled projects, support the repowering of older turbines, and equip planning authorities and developers with updated guidance to speed up project approvals and construction.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said the plan is essential to meeting the UK’s clean energy targets and delivering economic benefits. “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,” he said.
According to government estimates, the measures could more than double the current onshore wind workforce, supporting up to 45,000 jobs by 2030 across engineering, construction, and operations.
Key elements include addressing planning barriers linked to aviation and defence infrastructure, promoting repowering of ageing assets, and enhancing supply chain resilience to attract further clean industry investment.
Updated community benefit guidelines will offer £5,000 per megawatt per year for local initiatives, potentially delivering up to £70 million annually under a 29GW scenario.
Matthieu Hue, chief executive of EDF Power Solutions UK and co-chair of the government’s taskforce, said: “This strategy is focusing on overcoming barriers and challenges we face across the industry while capturing the major socio-economic benefits.”
Industry figures welcomed the strategy as a step toward unlocking investment and fast-tracking deployment. Eleri Davies of RWE said the plan “firmly establishes the clear actions required to double onshore wind capacity by 2030,” while Laura Fleming, managing director of Hitachi Energy UK, noted that “rapid deployment is critical to delivering Clean Power 2030.”
James Robottom of RenewableUK added that the strategy would “increase confidence among investors and developers” and help unlock billions of pounds in private investment.
The announcement follows the lifting of a de facto nine-year ban on onshore wind development in England and its reintegration into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime.
