Turbines and tensions - a conference divided

Earlier this week, the energy developers, consultants and government came together for the annual Onshore Wind Conference in Edinburgh to discuss the industry’s path forward.  

As expected, the keynote speakers painted a rosy picture of the prospects for meeting targets to double onshore wind energy by 2030. Chris Stark, Head of the UK Mission for Clean Power, pointed to grid reform and the recent decision against REMA as key steps toward strengthening the industry and boosting investment. Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy, followed up the next day, discussing the quick decision to overturn the English ban on onshore wind, the planned increase in the NSIP threshold from 50MW to 100MW to encourage more projects to go through local planning, and proposed changes to get rid of statutory consultation for NSIPs. Together, they made it sound like the Clean Power 2030 Mission and post-2030 targets were not only achievable, but already in hand.  

The panellists and conversations on the floor took a different tone, focussing on all the technical, planning and funding issues that remain. While the decision against REMA seemed unanimously supported, there are still questions about other pricing issues like the Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges that are levied against energy generators. The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) came up in most conversations, trying to figure out how we will approach the post-2030 targets and which projects or regions may get the go-ahead. While I can neither say or nor spell it, I heard a lot about ongoing concerns around Eskdalemuir, aMinistry of Defence array used for Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty monitoring which restricts onshore wind development within a large safeguarded zone.   

One constant across all the discussions was Reform and what a Reform government might mean for renewable energy projects, since any new project launched now will face a planning decision right around the time of the next election. The government response is about reframing – moving away from net-zero targets and instead emphasising local benefits. Our Scottish colleagues have lots of offer here on lessons learnt, particularly on how the industry has delivered meaningful community benefits, jobs, and skills training that could inform wind and solar projects in England.  

Our own research also has useful insights to offer. A survey we conducted this summer showed that concerns about Reform being anti-renewables aren’t as bad as we may have thought. In fact, 42% of respondents who plan to vote Reform also support the renewable transition. Read the full results here.  

In short, there are still obstacles ahead that make our wind targets difficult to achieve, but the government is working with the industry to tackle these issues and making progress. I look forward to going back to the conference next year to hear about latest policy initiatives and success stories that will help secure support across the political divide and meet our national energy goals.