Onshore wind pipeline 2025

RenewableUK EnergyPulse report - September 2025

Executive summary 

The overall pipeline for UK onshore wind projects operational, under construction, or being planned has increased in capacity by 4,313MW, from 42,745MW in September 2024 to a total of 47,058MW to September 2025.

Commissioning of projects is on an upwards trend since the historic low in 2020, with the operational capacity increasing from 15,566MW in September 2024 to 15,827MW in September 2025. The capacity of projects  under construction or consented has also grown again from 7,568MW to 8,458MW at the date of analysis.

Foreword by James Robottom, Head of Onshore Wind Delivery

In 2024, I made the extravagant claim that the previous year had “been the most important twelve months for onshore wind in the UK ever”. However, the last twelve months has possibly given it a run for its money, following the lifting of the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, as well as the delivery of an Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy – which was published in July 2025.

In short, onshore wind continues to be at the heart of the UK’s clean energy transition, and this report highlights the sector’s resilience and growth, against a challenging policy and planning backdrop in recent years. The latest analysis from EnergyPulse shows that our national pipeline has expanded to more than 47GW, with operational capacity reaching 15.8GW. This progress is a testament to the determination of our industry, and the growing recognition that onshore wind is one of the most cost-effective and pragmatic routes to achieving net zero.

The data presented here reflects not only the scale of the pipeline, but also the rapid advances in technology. Turbines being consented today are taller, more powerful and more efficient than ever before, with tip heights over 200m becoming commonplace in applications. This shift is enabling developers to deliver more clean electricity from fewer turbines, reducing costs and environmental impacts while maximising benefits for the communities that host them.

I am particularly encouraged to see activity across all four nations. Although Scotland remains the backbone of the UK’s portfolio, development in Wales is accelerating, and Northern Ireland continues to make a vital contribution. England has also seen long-awaited new projects progress, showing that local communities can and do support well-designed proposals.

The outlook to 2030 and beyond is striking. If all projects in the current portfolio move forward, we could see onshore wind capacity more than double to 24GW by the end of the decade, with further growth to over 33GW by 2033. Achieving this will require a supportive policy environment, faster planning decisions, and investment in grid infrastructure.

Last year I spoke of it being a time for a call to arms for onshore wind – it is very much now a call to action. This coming year has to be all about delivery – whether that’s delivering solutions to key issues such as Eskdalemuir, delivering the pipeline and securing contracts across the supply chain, or delivering the confidence to businesses that the UK is an ideal place to invest in onshore wind.

As the UK strives to strengthen its energy security, reduce bills and cut carbon emissions, onshore wind has never been more important. This report provides the detailed intelligence needed to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead, and RenewableUK will continue to work closely with its members to see these ambitions become reality.

This EnergyPulse report represents a snapshot of the interactive and daily- updated RenewableUK EnergyPulse database, available to RenewableUK members for free. Within the database, discover comprehensive and accurate renewable energy data, forecasts, and dashboards for offshore wind globally, as well as find out who is contracting with who.  

Non-members of RenewableUK can also purchase this report via the store.