UK Unveils First Onshore Wind Strategy to Boost Clean Energy

The UK government has published its first onshore wind strategy ever as it aims to put the industry back on its feet after almost a decade of inactivity in England. Published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the strategy is part of a core part of the government's wider Plan for Change, which aims to make the nation a leader in clean, secure, and domestically produced energy.

The strategy outlines over 40 steps designed to accelerate the installation of onshore wind gear. Were the steps fully achieved, they could facilitate up to 10 gigawatts (GW) of additional onshore wind capacity by 2030. Alongside energy objectives, the government places employment at approximately 45,000 within engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance on the agenda of advantages for the policy.

Key components of the strategy address problem-solving that previously has inhibited onshore wind farm development in the UK. These are aviation and defence infrastructure conflicts, said to have stopped or brought to a standstill some 10 GW of possible onshore wind developments. The strategy suggests cooperative approaches between government and industry parties to delineate such conflicts and unlock new development opportunities.

Part of the plan is "repowering" old wind farms. Some of the older turbines across the country are nearing the end of their useful lives and could be replaced by newer, more efficient turbines. This would increase energy production from existing sites and reduce the environmental price tag of land use by replacing rather than renewing infrastructure.

For the purposes of streamlining new site development, the strategy recommends better planning systems, such as a drive for data-driven decision-making. Site appraisals should be performed more efficiently and delay in planning eliminated through more efficient forecasting tools being incorporated and clear requirements for developers and local authorities being set.

The strategy also has economic and social advantages for local communities hosting onshore wind installations. It proposes new guidance in the form of voluntary community benefits, such as payment annually of £5,000 per installed megawatt capacity. Money could be spent to improve infrastructure, public facilities, or reduce local energy bills.

To further stimulate local industry, the government will increase its clean industry bonus. The policy would appeal to developers to invest in UK-based supply chains and promote industry regeneration in the form of manufacturing and service contracts tied to wind energy plans.

Implementation will be directed by a newly established Onshore Wind Council. The council, comprising a blend of industry, government department, and energy expert representatives, will act as the coordinated and transparent publication of the strategy. The council will be required to monitor progress in the areas of project approvals, job creation, supply chain build-out, and delivery of community benefit.

The policy also enables meeting the UK's energy security and carbon savings in the long term. When it comes to raising the proportion of onshore wind in the UK's domestic energy mix, the government seeks to cut reliance on imported fossil fuels and protect homes from fluctuations in global energy market prices. Wind power is already among the lowest-cost electricity sources, and due to its capacity to deploy within a short time, it is a sensible means to meet near-term economic and climate resilience objectives.

But the strategy also recognizes that success hinges on eliminating strongly entrenched regulatory, logistical, and societal hurdles. Planning delays, public protests in some areas, and vulnerability in the grid infrastructure continue to be issues. The strategy also encompasses steps to involve communities upfront in the development process and to incorporate their concerns in order to avert local resistance.

Industry leaders involved in creating the strategy highlighted its function in rebuilding investor confidence in the UK onshore wind industry. Ten years of planning restraint and policy uncertainty had been eroding activity, especially in England. The new strategy is viewed as a sign of renewed government backing and a clear way forward for further development.

By emphasizing practical barriers and the union of wind expansion with local economic incentives, the policy heralds a move towards an integrated and locally focused approach to energy development. With onshore wind offering economic and environmental advantages, the UK seeks to bolster its role as an exemplary clean energy nation while supporting regional economies and energy security.

Its performance will be tracked by ongoing review and feedback from the Onshore Wind Council. Subsequent revisions to the strategy will be guided by evidence of delivery of projects, results from community engagement, and shifts in energy demand.

This is among world trends where nations are resorting to renewable energy sources in order to achieve sustainability goals and create robust energy frameworks. The UK's new onshore wind policy, with its ambitious plan and cooperative strategy, is an important step towards achieving its clean energy transition. 

Source:
Editor | 8 July 2025
© 2025 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | Original article based on press release and stakeholder comments