Rules on new UK onshore wind developments will be reviewed by the government, with proposals aimed at relaxing laws determining where wind farms can be placed.
After a group of over 30 conservative backbenchers pressured the government to change rules around onshore wind, the Department for Levelling Up said on Tuesday that it would launch a strategic review into the issue.
Really pleased to see a sensible agreement reached this evening which will enable onshore wind to be delivered while enshrining the vital principle of community consent. ???? https://t.co/Ja7uBcikhB
— Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) December 6, 2022
Under the new rules planning permission requirements for onshore wind farms would be relaxed, with infrastructure no longer limited to areas specifically designated by local councils.
This would ultimately give communities more of a choice in where wind farms are placed, potentially also providing consumers with cheaper energy across the UK.
RenewableUK, the UK’s wind power trade body, also outlined that new onshore contracts in 2022 will see power generated at around £54/MWh, far below the current wholesale price of £280/MWh.
“Backing onshore wind is one of the best solutions to the energy crisis, as projects can be up and running within a year of getting planning permission,” said RenewableUK chief executive Dan McGrail.
Onshore wind development massively slowed in the UK after rules imposed by David Cameron’s government in 2015, with deployment having been around 100-150 turbines a year beforehand, adding roughly 300MW worth of output to the UK grid.