This is what it will take to unlock UK onshore wind at pivotal moment for sector

The new government strategy for onshore wind marks a pivotal moment for the UK in taking advantage of one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy – but action and accountability is needed on grid, planning and radar to unlock its full potential.

Hitting the government’s 2030 target of deploying up to 29GW of onshore wind – roughly double today’s capacity – is critical to achieving broader clean power objectives.

After years of policy uncertainty, the publication of the government’s Onshore Wind Strategy earlier this month is a crucial moment, and at RWE, we welcome this clarity and renewed commitment to onshore wind deployment at scale.

We understand the value it brings – not just in terms of clean, low-cost power, but as a proven engine for economic growth and social benefit. These projects power homes and businesses and are a boost to skills and the supply chain while also investing directly in the communities that host them.

Now, with the strategy in place, the real work begins: delivering the infrastructure, reforms and investment needed to turn plans into power.

Fixing the fundamentals: planning and grid

As an industry, we were united in welcoming the removal of the de-facto ban on new onshore wind in England by this government just over a year ago, after a ten-year hiatus. It will take time before we see projects in England coming through the planning system, because developing an onshore wind farm can sometimes be a lengthy process.

One of the biggest challenges we face, in England as well as the rest of Great Britain, is grid. There is limited capacity on the existing network, and new and upgraded infrastructure is urgently needed.

The new strategy commits the government to work with Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and network companies to continue to progress radical reform to ensure timely connections to the grid.

Therefore, we welcome the commitment for Ofgem to consider sharper obligations and incentives for network companies, to hold them to account for changes in connection costs and timescales. One option would be to require network companies to report quarterly to Ofgem on their progress to deliver planned network upgrades.

Likewise, while some of the planning barriers for onshore wind have begun to shift, local planning authorities are still under significant pressure. Without the right resources and expertise in place, bottlenecks will persist, in particular for projects in England as they start to enter the planning process.

The strategy commits the government to providing training and resource to support local planning authorities and statutory consultees to assess applications. To this end, we’re calling on the government to undertake and publish, as soon as possible, a root and branch review of resourcing, as committed to in the Clean Power Action Plan.

Clearing the radar: tackling aviation constraints

One of the less well-known – but hugely impactful – barriers to onshore wind is the constraint imposed by aviation and defence systems.

Too many projects across the UK are held up due to interference concerns and delays in agreeing mitigation.

The strategy acknowledges this issue and commits to action. But to make a real difference, we need to move from voluntary cooperation to shared responsibility.

That means placing clear obligations on National Air Traffic Services, the Ministry of Defence and airports to prioritise radar upgrades – and provide funding support where necessary.

Making investment stack up

The UK has long been seen as a leader in clean energy, but we’re now at a point where our investment frameworks must evolve to keep pace with global competition. The recent decision to extend the CfD contract from 15 to 20 years will help reduce risk for investors.

Ruling out zonal pricing has provided necessary certainty and stability for investors. But there is more to do. Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges remain volatile.

Reforms that deliver greater certainty at the point of investment (such as allowing developers to fix their future TNUoS bills against a NESO forecast), and updates to the TNUoS methodology to make sure it reflects the realities of today’s energy system, are essential to ensure we send the right locational signals for new generation, in order to build and shape the energy system as cost-efficiently as possible.

Unlocking the full potential of onshore wind will require strategic reforms, collaborative effort and prompt investment and the Onshore Wind Strategy is an important step towards this.

By addressing planning, aviation, and market challenges head-on, the UK can secure a cleaner, more resilient energy future – one that benefits communities, investors and the environment alike.