The government’s long-awaited Onshore Wind Strategy, published this month, is a clear signal that onshore wind is back on the agenda. After years of policy stagnation and planning barriers, the strategy outlines over 40 actions aimed at unlocking up to 29GW of capacity by 2030. But while the document is comprehensive and largely welcomed by industry, it leaves a few key questions unanswered.
Among the measures is the decision to update the threshold for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) onshore wind projects to 100MW. This change had already been announced, as the capacity threshold for solar NSIPs is also set to change to 100MW from 31 December this year. This step could streamline consenting for larger projects, but could increase the bottlenecks facing smaller schemes navigating local planning systems. The promise of training for local planning authorities (LPAs), particularly as most will not have dealt with onshore wind applications due to the de facto ban in place prior to 2024, is positive yet vague. What this training entails, who delivers it, and how it will be resourced remain unclear. Without real investment in LPA capacity, the planning system risks remaining a brake on progress.
Grid reform is another area where ambition meets reality. The strategy identifies the need for radical reform to grid connections and system planning, with long lead times and constrained capacity already delaying projects by years. However, the sector has heard similar commitments before. The challenge now is delivery. The government’s pledge to work with Ofgem and network operators is welcome, but if the current rate of change is continued, the pace may not match the urgency of deployment targets.
Environmental reform also features prominently, with the introduction of Environmental Outcomes Reports and a Nature Restoration Fund. These changes aim to modernise assessments and align them with broader environmental goals. Yet, as with many elements of the strategy, their effectiveness will depend on how they are implemented in practice. Both developers and LPAs will need clarity on how these new tools will function.
Perhaps the most pressing challenge is one that cuts across all renewables: supply chain and workforce. The strategy acknowledges the UK’s overreliance on international suppliers and the emerging skills gap in key areas like electrical engineering. But while it gestures towards solutions, such as a supply chain capability analysis and inclusion in the Industrial Strategy, the strategy does not address the amount of time required to build the necessary workforce and supply chain infrastructure. Upskilling takes years, and scaling up domestic manufacturing capacity is a long-term endeavour. Without targeted support and long-term policy certainty, the UK risks missing the opportunity to build a robust domestic supply chain.
Still, the strategy is a step forward. It reflects a government that, post-ban, is serious about onshore wind. It sets a tone of collaboration between industry, government, and communities, and it lays the groundwork for reform. But it also highlights how far there is to go. The ambition is there, and now it must be matched by delivery.