Lifting the block on onshore wind is a major step forward towards cheap energy for all

The Growth Plan also states that the Government will streamline the planning process for offshore wind projects, as it notes that the decision-making process can take 4 years.

The price of offshore wind has fallen by around 70% since 2015, making it the lowest cost large-scale power source available in the UK, and industry has long identified planning and grid issues as major obstacles to speedier development. 

RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail said: “Removing the block on onshore wind in England means we can generate significantly more cheap electricity for hard-pressed billpayers in areas where projects have local support. Once projects have planning permission they can be up and running within a year, so this technology offers us a great opportunity to tackle the cost of energy crisis.

“Speeding up the planning process for offshore wind is vital too, as it will allow us to unlock an enormous amount of new capacity much faster and help us to meet the Government’s target of quadrupling our offshore wind capacity by 2030. It will also help us to meet the Prime Minister’s vision of the UK becoming a net energy exporter by 2040. At the moment it can take up to ten years to get a project over all the hurdles. We can’t afford these glacial timescales any longer, especially as offshore wind has now reached a point where it’s even cheaper to build than onshore wind.

“It’s also vital that we speed up grid connections, as some offshore wind farms are being given connection dates which are 10 years into the future. Alongside the changes announced today, we’re urging Ofgem and National Grid to accelerate grid reform, as one of the most important steps towards decarbonising our power system in the years ahead.

“Overall, the Government’s Growth Plan could be a game-changer in speeding up the transition to low-cost renewable power. Companies plan to invest up to £175bn in UK wind energy this decade, boosting growth and energy security”.