- Job Growth & Investment: Up to 45,000 new skilled jobs and £70 million in annual community funding projected by 2030 through the new onshore wind strategy.
- Policy Reset After 9-Year Stagnation: Over 40 new measures introduced to reverse the near-decade-long de facto ban on onshore wind in England.
- Clean Energy Push: Strategy aims to achieve 27–29 GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030, reducing reliance on global gas markets and supporting UK energy security.
The UK government has launched its first-ever Onshore Wind Strategy, aiming to reverse nearly a decade of stagnation in the sector and deliver a major boost to its clean energy goals. The plan, part of the broader “Plan for Change,” outlines more than 40 actions to jumpstart development, with the potential to create up to 45,000 jobs by 2030 and unlock 27–29 GW of onshore wind capacity.
“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,” said Energy Minister Michael Shanks.
Strategic Actions
Key measures include:
- Unlocking 10 GW by addressing conflicts between turbines and civil/defence aerospace systems.
- Repowering aging turbines to extend clean energy generation.
- Equipping planners and developers with improved tools, faster assessments, and up-to-date data.
- Expanding the clean industry bonus, incentivising investment in UK-based or cleaner supply chains.
- Restoring planning parity, putting onshore wind on equal footing with offshore wind and nuclear projects for infrastructure approvals.
The strategy also empowers developers to build faster, now that onshore wind has been reinstated into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
“This strategy is focusing on overcoming barriers… while capturing the major socio-economic benefits it can bring to the environment and to local economies,” said Matthieu Hue, Co-Chair of the Onshore Wind Taskforce and CEO of EDF Power Solutions UK and Ireland.
Community Benefits
The government is updating its voluntary community benefits guidance for England, offering £5,000 per megawatt per year to communities near wind projects. This funding could support initiatives like libraries, sports facilities, and bill discount schemes. Reaching the upper target of 29 GW by 2030 would unlock £70 million annually for rural communities.
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“The strategy sets an ambitious target to almost double the UK’s onshore wind capacity by the end of the decade,” said James Robottom, Head of Onshore Wind Delivery at RenewableUK. “The measures outlined will increase confidence among investors and developers, so that we can attract billions in private investment.”
Industry and Environmental Coordination
The plan emphasizes collaboration with stakeholders like Historic England to ensure heritage protection during infrastructure rollout.
“We welcome recognition of our role and the contribution of our advice in the Onshore Wind Taskforce strategy,” said Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England.
Additionally, the government has completed a Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme to de-risk offshore wind projects, guiding The Crown Estate’s seabed strategies and ensuring alignment across marine industries and environmental protection.
Labour and Skills Challenges
While the strategy is widely welcomed, concerns remain around rebuilding the workforce after a 9-year policy freeze.
“The lost years resulting from the last government’s inexplicable ban have resulted in significant workforce and skills-related challenges that urgently need to be addressed,” said Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect. “It is also important that renewables such as onshore wind generate good, unionised jobs.”
The Onshore Wind Strategy marks a pivotal shift in the UK’s renewable energy landscape, aiming to transform wind into a cornerstone of energy security, job creation, and local economic revitalisation.
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