The Resurgence of Onshore Wind
Some people view onshore wind turbines as a sign of innovation, progress, and positive change, whereas others see them as a bird-blending blight on our beautiful countryside.
Whatever your views, Labour have shaken things up. The newly elected Labour government have lifted the de facto nine-year ban on onshore wind. In 2015, under mounting pressure from fellow MPs concerned about the impact of wind turbines on rural communities, David Cameron’s government instituted an effective ban on the shore-based renewable energy technology.
There was never a policy explicitly banning onshore wind per se, but rather a series of footnotes in the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF) which meant that any new onshore wind projects could be blocked if they faced a single planning objection. Just one disagreeable, change-phobic antagonist could bring a multi-million-pound project to a grinding halt. Seems reasonable…
Just 72 hours into the Labour government, Rachel Reeves announced the removal of these restrictions in her maiden speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The footnotes that have stifled the onshore wind industry for almost a decade have been removed, and a new draft of the NPPF has been released.
The changes that Labour have made are part of their plan to completely de-carbonise the grid by 2030, five years quicker than the Conservatives planned to do it. In stark contrast with the Conservative’s footnote loophole, Labour aim to double onshore wind capacity by 2030, along with tripling solar, and quadrupling offshore wind.
Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of energy available to us, and there is evidence to suggest that increasing our onshore generation could help to reduce household energy bills.
Despite being cost-competitive, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are inherently intermittent, less energy dense than fossil fuels, and are non-dispatchable, meaning they can only produce electricity when wind or sunlight is available.
These characteristics mean that volume matters!
We need to increase our renewable energy capacity to harness as much wind and sunlight as possible, while simultaneously investing heavily in energy storage R&D and deployment. This ensures that we still have energy at our fingertips even when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing.
Increasing our investment in and roll-out of renewable energy is crucial, not only to reduce our emissions, but importantly, to create well-paid, highly skilled British jobs and improve our nation’s energy security.
Renewable energy infrastructure needs to be built at a faster pace, but it should be done considerately, taking into account the views of local stakeholders. We should not mindlessly industrialise our beautiful countryside and decimate our green spaces, but rather balance our energy future with the protection of this country’s natural beauty.
While many view wind turbines as symbols of innovation and societal progress, it is understandable why people oppose having them cast shadows over their property. Developers would be remiss not to consult local stakeholders and consider their views in the planning process. If mismanaged, there is a risk of backlash against what is otherwise a sound policy initiative and a positive step forward for renewable energy in the UK.
Onshore wind energy will be a highly valuable part of this country’s future energy mix. It is cheap, readily available, and the recent policy change that has removed the regulatory barriers to its deployment is most welcome.
