England Onshore Wind Applications Hit 10-Year High

Applications for new onshore windfarms in England reached a 10-year high in the year leading up to March, with approximately 45 applications submitted. This surge follows the decision by the Government of the United Kingdom to overturn a de facto ban on onshore wind developments that had been in place since 2015.

Data shows the monthly average of onshore wind capacity entering the planning system rose from 9 megawatts before the election to approximately 36 megawatts by the start of this year. While England's proposals reached 438MW, they remain smaller than those in Scotland, which totaled 5,280MW over the same period. The Imerys project in Cornwall stands as the largest onshore windfarm in England to secure a government subsidy since the ban was lifted.

RenewableUK reports that onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of new electricity in the country and could contribute up to £56bn to the economy by 2050. The trade group notes that new projects can be deployed quickly to reduce exposure to volatile global gas prices.