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Onshore Wind: Current UK Use

Wind is the third largest contributor of renewable energy in the UK after biomass and hydroelectric. There are currently around 1,769 wind turbines in operation at 137 sites in the UK with a total installed capacity of 2034.85 megawatts (source: BWEA, 1 March 2007). Of these turbines, those based offshore, have an installed capacity of 303.80 megawatts.  In total, these turbines currently provide just over 0.3 per cent of the UK’s electricity supply, enough to supply around 400,000 households.

In 2004, 12 new wind farm projects were commissioned, representing an additional 240 megawatts of capacity. In 2005, 19 new wind farm projects were built giving additional capacity of 446 megawatts.  In 2006, 22 new wind farm projects were built representing an additional 630 megawatts of capacity. 

To find up-to-date information and a map of onshore wind farms in the UK, please visit the British Wind Energy Association website.

Likely contribution of onshore wind to the renewables targets

By the end of 2005, it is predicted that total installed wind capacity will be 1,680 megawatts. This will meet 1.3 per cent of electricity supply, based on total consumption of 343.8 terawatt hours (source: UK Energy in Brief, July 2003), or the needs of just under 1 million UK households.

By 2010, it is expected that wind energy will make the main contribution towards the Government's 10% renewable energy target.

Future development

Onshore wind energy is a relatively mature renewable energy industry and has become established as the most viable option for large-scale renewable energy expansion in the short to medium term.

Planning and consents

All renewable energy developments must take place within the formal planning procedure, which allows all relevant stakeholders to have their say and assess all relevant impacts on the environment, local community, etc. Under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, all proposed onshore renewable energy developments of 50 megawatts or below are handled by local planning authorities (LPAs), while proposals greater than 50 megawatts onshore and 1 megawatt offshore are referred to the Secretary of State (England and Wales) or the Scottish Executive (Scotland). Planning guidelines for LPAs are contained within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22), updating previous guidance. PPS22 was released in August 2004.

Projects over 50 megawatts are granted development permission under the specialised regime of Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, which is handled by BERR in England and Wales and by the Scottish Executive in Scotland. The Section 36 procedure is an integrated process that takes account of the views of the LPA. Proposals are simultaneously presented to BERR or Scottish Executive and put to the LPA for their view. At the same time, the public are consulted on the proposal, and statutory bodies such as English Nature are asked for their views. If an LPA objects to a development under consideration, a public inquiry into the proposal must be held. Otherwise, calling a public inquiry is at the discretion of Ministers.

In Northern Ireland, all planning decisions are handled by the Planning Service, an executive agency of the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland).

Under both the normal planning regime (the Town and Country Planning Act) and the specialised Electricity Act 1989 regime, EU-wide requirements on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have to be complied with, and appropriate regulations have been put in place.