Closed support mechanisms limit growth of UK onshore wind capacity

In 2019, 629 MW of capacity were installed in the UK as just 23 projects went operational, of which four were in England, four in Wales, six in Northern Ireland and nine in Scotland. 

This continues the trend seen in 2018, when only 651 MW (91 projects) were installed. The huge drop in new capacity followed the record high of 2,683 MW installed in 2017, when 343 projects started generating as developers raced to beat the main deadline to qualify for government support, says RenewableUK. 

All but one of the 23 projects which began generating last year had qualified for financial support under the Renewables Obligation, feed-in tariff or Contract for Difference schemes before they were closed to onshore wind developers. 

Just two onshore wind projects – three turbines totalling 1.9 MW – received planning approval in England in 2019 and just one new project was submitted into the English planning system, with a capacity of 5 MW. 

In Scotland however, where the Scottish government supports developing new onshore wind, there was a healthy pipeline of new projects, with 556 MW (26 projects) consented last year, and 1,969 MW (35 projects) submitted into the planning system, adds the association. 

The Committee on Climate Change has advised that under a low cost energy strategy to reach net zero emissions, the UK’s onshore wind capacity could increase from 13 GW now to 35 GW by 2035. 

RenewableUK’s Head of Policy and Regulation Rebecca Williams said: ‘These figures highlight that the current approach is falling short on delivering renewable energy capacity at the level needed for net zero. This is a flashing red warning light on our net zero dashboard and we urgently need a new strategy from government.’