Onshore wind pipeline report 2023

RenewableUK EnergyPulse report - September 2023

Executive summary

The overall pipeline for UK onshore wind projects operational, under construction, or being planned has increased in capacity by 1,527MW, from 37,014MW in September 2022 to a total of 38,541MW to September 2023.

Commissioning of projects remains low post-2019 but continues to rise since the historic low in 2019 (Figure 1.3), with the operational capacity increasing from 14,209MW in September 2022 to 14,895MW presently (Figure 1.1). The capacity under construction or consented has also grown again from 6,793MW to 7,221MW at the date of publication.

Most of the portfolio built or yet to be built is in Scotland, accounting for 78% of the total UK capacity portfolio.

Development activity is increasing in Wales, where the yet-to-be-built portfolio is greater than that already operational. If all projects are built, then the total Wales portfolio will almost equal that of England where new build activity remains scarce since the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework implemented in 2015
(Figure 1.2).

The recent commissioning of projects such as, Muirhall Energy’s Greengairs East project (36MW) and Vattenfall’s South Kyle Wind Farm (260MW) has aided in the increase in Scottish operational capacity by nearly 700MW in the past year to 9,372MW.