The United Kingdom was the first major economy to legislate for net zero carbon emissions and since 2000, the UK has decarbonised faster than any other G7 country. Onshore wind is a key part of the Government’s strategy for low-cost decarbonisation of the energy sector and it will be integral to achieving net zero by 2050.
I am not especially keen on the visual impact of great big wind turbines across our countryside, however given the global energy crisis, I get that we need to use all tools available to us to build energy resilience and boost domestic production. However, we need to be very careful about where we put new wind turbines. Specifically, I would rather have them by motorways than in beautiful, scenic areas of our wonderful countryside. Yet, I do understand why the Government plans to introduce changes to the planning system.
These changes mean that planning permission for onshore wind would depend upon a project commanding local support and being able to satisfactorily address any impacts identified by the local community. The Government consulted on these changes and I understand that responses received to the consultation are being analysed. I look forward to reading the Government's response in due course.
Separately, the Government has said that it will seek views on developing local partnerships for supportive communities to enable those who would like to host new onshore wind to benefit, for example through lower energy bills.
The Energy White Paper stated that there will need to be sustained growth in the capacity of onshore wind over the next decade alongside solar and offshore wind. Therefore, the Government announced that onshore wind and other established renewable technologies such as solar PV will be able to compete in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. The Government has recently confirmed a budget of £205 million for the fifth allocation round of the CfD scheme.
More broadly, onshore wind is one of the most cost-effective electricity generating technologies, and already accounts for approximately a quarter of installed renewable capacity in the UK.
I will continue to monitor any future developments closely.