The United Kingdom approved a record 16 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity in the second quarter of 2025, government data showed, marking a 195% increase compared with the same period last year.
The figures, first reported by the Financial Times, cover 323 renewable energy projects and come as the Labour government accelerates efforts to meet its pledge of achieving 95% carbon-free electricity generation by 2030.
The approvals span a range of technologies, including solar, wind, and energy storage. Among the most significant developments was the Scottish government’s approval of SSE’s 4.1GW Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, one of the largest offshore wind projects currently in the pipeline.
Battery storage also saw significant growth, with over 100 applications submitted between April and June totalling 8.4GW of capacity—more than double the level recorded during the same quarter in 2024.
Over the 12 months to June, developers filed planning applications for 30GW of energy storage capacity across 400 projects. This compares to the UK’s current installed storage capacity of approximately 6GW. According to government estimates, the country will require 23–27GW of storage by the end of the decade to support grid reliability as more intermittent renewable sources come online.
“This unprecedented level of planning approvals reflects the scale and urgency of the energy transition,” a UK government spokesperson said. “It puts us on a firm path toward a decarbonised power system.”
The surge in project approvals highlights investor confidence in the sector and the continued alignment of infrastructure development with the UK’s broader net-zero commitments.
