RenewableUK is welcoming a new policy paper “Nationally Significant Infrastructure: action plan for reforms to the planning process” published today by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which outlines the Government’s commitment to streamline the planning process in England and Wales to allow vital new clean energy infrastructure to be built more quickly.

In the run-up to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget on 15th March, RenewableUK has published a new report setting out seven key steps which the Government could take to ensure that the UK doesn’t get overtaken by other countries in the face of intense global competition to attract private investment in vital new clean energy projects.

Responding to today’s announcement by the Planning Inspectorate of a delay of nearly five months before the Secretary of State takes a final decision on granting approval for Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm, RenewableUK's Executive Director of Policy Ana Musat said:

Five energy trade associations representing over 750 companies have written a joint letter to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warning him that the competitiveness of the UK as a clean energy investment destination is at severe risk unless he takes key steps in the Spring Budget to secure green growth.

New research published today by RenewableUK shows that more than ten times as much UK offshore wind capacity was installed in 2022 than was built onshore. The industry is calling for planning reforms to implemented as soon as possible to enable more projects to go ahead onshore and offshore - even though a record amount of new offshore capacity went live last year - to meet our energy security and climate change goals.

Responding to the Chancellor’s commitment to grow the UK’s green economy in his keynote speech this morning, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Policy Ana Musat said:

Wind generates 21 gigawatts of electricity – first new record of 2023

RenewableUK is highlighting another wind energy generation record, set yesterday evening (Tuesday 10th January) and confirmed today by National Grid ESO.

New wind energy generation record set for the third time in a year

RenewableUK is highlighting a new wind energy generation record set on Friday 30th December and confirmed today by National Grid ESO.

The Government’s latest survey of public attitudes towards renewables and tackling climate change shows that 88% of people support using renewable energy - a new record high - and only 2% oppose it.

RenewableUK welcomes the comments by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, stating that onshore wind farms should go ahead in areas where they enjoy the support of local communities.

RenewableUK is warning that the windfall tax on electricity generators announced today in the Government’s Autumn Statement could severely deter investment in much-needed new renewable energy projects.

RenewableUK is highlighting the second wind energy generation record to be set within the space of a week, as Britain’s onshore and offshore wind farms generated more than 20 gigawatts (GW) for the first time on Wednesday 2nd November, according to National Grid ESO.

RenewableUK is highlighting new statistics from National Grid ESO which show that onshore and offshore wind farms have generated a record high of 19,936 megawatts (MW) of electricity, providing more than half of Britain’s electricity.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail has told the UK Parliament’s Welsh Affairs Committee in London that floating wind offers huge industrial, economic and environmental benefits to Wales and the rest of the UK.

New analysis by RenewableUK shows that wind farms awarded contracts over the last 7 years by the Government to generate clean power will save each household nearly £250 per year, compared to the cost of generating electricity from gas at this winter’s prices.

Renewable energy industry urges new Prime Minister to scale up on clean power

Congratulating Rishi Sunak on his victory in the contest to become Prime Minister, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

RenewableUK is welcoming the Government’s commitment in its Growth Plan to remove the block on onshore wind in England. The plan states that Ministers will “bring onshore wind planning policy in line with other infrastructure to allow it to be deployed more easily in England”. Onshore wind is one of the UK’s cheapest sources of new power – up to ten times cheaper than the wholesale cost of gas.

A new report published by RenewableUK shows that the overall pipeline of onshore wind projects in the UK has increased by over 4 gigawatts in the last twelve months, from 33GW in October 2021 to 37GW today. The pipeline includes projects which are operational, under construction, consented or being planned.

RenewableUK is urging the new Prime Minister Liz Truss to speed up the roll-out of new renewable energy projects to help billpayers and boost the nation’s energy security.

The clean energy industry’s trade body, RenewableUK, is backing proposals to develop new fixed price contracts for older wind and renewable generation sources that would cut bills for consumers and reduce exposure to volatile gas prices.

RenewableUK is highlighting a major clean energy milestone as the UK’s combined onshore and offshore wind capacity now stands at 25.5 gigawatts - enough to power 19 million households a year, which is two-thirds of all UK homes.

The latest auction for Contracts for Difference to generate clean power has secured the largest ever amount of home-grown, cheap renewable energy for British consumers at record low prices. These new renewable projects will save consumers £58 a year compared to the cost of power from gas, and reduce our reliance on expensive imported energy,

RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse market intelligence data report shows that the global pipeline of offshore wind projects has almost doubled over the past twelve months, from 429 gigawatts of capacity a year ago to 846GW today. The pipeline includes projects at every stage of development: operational, under construction, consented or planned.

A new report published today by RenewableUK sets out a series of key measures, including market and regulatory reforms, to ensure that our electricity system is decarbonised completely by the middle of the next decade, totally phasing out unabated gas generation, as a key step towards achieving the UK’s net zero emissions target by 2050.

RenewableUK is welcoming industry leaders, senior Government officials and other key stakeholders to the launch of a new body, the Floating Offshore Wind Task Force in London today. The Task Force will ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology, creating thousands of new jobs and attracting billions in private investment.

RenewableUK has published a series of key policy recommendations in a new report to help the Government achieve its target of 10GW of low carbon hydrogen by 2030, including at least 5GW from green hydrogen production. This will boost the UK’s energy security by replacing expensive imported gas with a clean home-grown energy source, and allow us to make the most of the vast quantities of electricity we are generating from renewables.

The renewable energy industry is welcoming the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy which sets ambitious new targets for clean technologies to reduce the UK’s dependence on gas as fast as possible. By 2030, 95% of UK power will be generate from low carbon sources - fossil fuel generation will shrink to just 5%, from around 40% today.

RenewableUK is proposing a wide-ranging plan to the Government outlining key steps which would enable the UK to effectively end our dependence on gas for electricity within 5 years. Replacing gas with new renewable energy capacity to generate power would reduce the country’s vulnerability to huge fluctuations in global gas prices which are hurting consumers, as well as accelerating action against climate change.

RenewableUK is calling for the UK and devolved Governments to boost our onshore wind capacity as a key part of our nation’s strategy to cut our dependence on gas and move to low-cost, home-grown energy sources. The UK can more than double its total onshore wind capacity from 14 gigawatts now to 30GW by 2030 and this would add £45bn to the economy and support 27,000 jobs.

New research published today by RenewableUK shows the UK’s total pipeline of offshore wind projects now stands at 86GW – more than eight times our current operational capacity.