The industry praises the UK's plan for onshore wind.

The UK Government has released its Onshore Wind Strategy, outlining over 40 initiatives to increase onshore wind capacity to 29GW by 2030 and rejuvenate growth after years of stagnation.

Developed with industry input, the strategy received positive feedback from RenewableUK and Scottish Renewables as a significant move to advance project deployment and tackle issues like planning, grid access, and radar limitations.

James Robottom, head of onshore wind delivery at RenewableUK, stated that the government's strategy sets an ambitious goal to nearly double the UK's onshore wind capacity by the decade's end, aligning with the Government’s Clean Power by 2030 mission. He emphasized that lifting the effective ban in England is just the start of rebuilding momentum in the sector.

Robottom noted that the measures will boost confidence among investors and developers, potentially attracting billions in private investment and generating thousands of skilled jobs and new supply chains nationwide. He also supported establishing a new Onshore Wind Council for oversight and urged ministers to maximize capacity through upcoming Contracts for Difference auctions.

Claire Mack, CEO of Scottish Renewables, emphasized the strategy's reaffirmation of the importance of the Scottish onshore wind sector in the UK's clean power transition. She highlighted that onshore wind is a cost-effective, rapidly deployable source of clean energy that creates skilled jobs and benefits communities.

Mack added that collaborative UK-Scottish efforts on planning reform, aviation constraints, and grid connections will enhance onshore wind deployment and build on last year's Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal, which aims for 20GW of capacity in Scotland by 2030.

Scottish Renewables data indicates that the sector supports over 16,800 jobs and contributes £6.4bn to the Scottish economy.