RenewableUK has confirmed that across the entirety of 2022, only two small onshore wind turbines had been developed across England despite a “record-breaking” year for offshore wind.
According to analysis via RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse data analysts, a total of just over 3.5GW of new wind capacity had been installed in 2022. Of this, three major offshore wind projects went fully operational in 2022 adding just under 3.2GW of new capacity to the UK. This smashed the previous record of 2.1GW which was set in 2018.
“The latest figures show we made terrific progress in installing a record amount of new offshore wind capacity last year,” said RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail.
“However, we still need to ensure that the glacial pace of the consenting process is stepped up significantly to stay on track for the quadrupling of offshore capacity that the Government wants to see by 2030 as a key step in strengthening the UK’s energy security.”
RenewableUK’s analysis indicated that in total, ten new onshore wind projects had been installed in 2022 which added a total of 318MW. Six of these were built in Scotland, with a capacity of 314MW. One new project went fully operational in Wales, with a capacity of 2.5MW, and two in Northern Ireland with a capacity of 0.5MW. There was just one project in England, with a capacity of 1MW, comprising two turbines.
In total, this is lower onshore wind capacity than had been created in 2021 when 370MW was added. Deployment in Scotland had grown from the 295MW installed in 2021.
Onshore wind, despite being one of the cheapest methods of generating clean energy, had an effective ban placed upon it via planning constraints. These constraints had made it increasingly difficult to contrast new onshore wind projects and as a result, the industry had ground to a halt.
However, the prospects of further onshore wind developments had been bolstered by a series of positive measures introduced by the UK Government. In late September the former chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, unveiled the government’s Growth Plan with an emphasis on “unlocking the potential” for onshore wind.
In December this vision was to be realised with the UK Government confirming it would relax its de facto ban on onshore wind following growing pressure from MPs. This was following Simon Clarke MP, the former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, putting forward an amendment to the Levelling Up Bill that would allow local planning authorities to approve onshore wind projects.
This should support growth within the onshore wind generation sector in England and additionally bolster the wider sector across the UK.
“Just two small turbines went operational in England in 2022, so we need to see substantial changes to enable consumers and local communities to benefit fully from the benefits that this popular low-cost technology offers,” said McGrail.
“That means changing the rules which skew the planning system unfairly against onshore wind in England, putting it back on a level playing field so that it can compete fairly against other clean technologies.
“In all parts of the UK, including Scotland, investors are highlighting the planning system as a major block on developing onshore new wind farms. Onshore wind is one of our cheapest sources of new power and the Government’s own polling shows that four-fifths of the public support it. But outdated planning rules and lack of resources in planning authorities mean progress and investment are being held back.”