These storage projects are also vital in providing flexibility in our clean energy system to ensure it continues to meet electricity demand at all times, especially as demand is set to grow with the take-up of technologies such as electric vehicles.

The report sets out the case for reforming the planning system and introducing financial support mechanisms to encourage more battery storage and green hydrogen projects to “co-locate” at sites where clean electricity is generated throughout the UK. This means they could be built on wind and solar sites which already have planning permission and share existing grid connections rather than having to wait for years in a queue, saving time and money.

These storage projects are also vital in providing flexibility in our clean energy system to ensure it continues to meet electricity demand at all times, especially as demand is set to grow with the take-up of technologies such as electric vehicles.   

The report, entitled “Making the most of renewables: the role of onshore co-location in accelerating an integrated energy system", sets out the case for reforming the planning system and introducing financial support mechanisms to encourage more battery storage and green hydrogen projects to “co-locate” at sites where clean electricity is generated throughout the UK. This means they could be built on wind and solar sites which already have planning permission and share existing grid connections rather than having to wait for years in a queue, saving time and money.

The queue of all energy projects awaiting connection has now reached over 700 gigawatts (GW) according to National Grid statistics, of which 97GW are battery storage projects. To put this into context, the UK’s entire operational wind capacity (onshore and offshore) currently stands at nearly 30GW. 

Co-locating solar projects with battery storage could reduce the cost of building and running battery projects by 50%. And cumulatively, research by the Carbon Trust suggests that enabling a more flexible energy system with storage would save the UK up to £16.7 billion a year by 2050 in electricity system costs, ultimately benefitting bill payers.

RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse database shows that at present only 12% of wind and solar farms throughout the UK are co-located with batteries or hydrogen electrolysers, but the report states that has the potential to surge in the years ahead to meet the expected increase in electricity demand if the right policy framework is put in place.

The report calls for National Grid ESO to identify and quantify the value of the flexibility which co-location offers to a net zero system, as this would stimulate new investment. The wide range of measures also include providing new streamlined guidance for planning authorities to bring forward projects, and resourcing planning bodies better to enable decisions to be taken more swiftly.

The innovative “energy parks” which combine renewables and storage produce a more constant supply of clean electricity, which helps to tackle the issue of variability; in high winds, the grid cannot always cope with the vast amounts of clean power being generated by wind, and although some grid upgrades are underway, other solutions are needed to make the best use of the UK’s abundant renewable energy resources.

The report’s author, RenewableUK’s Senior Policy Analyst Yonna Vitanova, said:

“The value of storage in our modern energy system is under-appreciated and under-valued. This has to change if we’re to make the most of innovation clean technology, drive people’s electricity bills down and increase Britain's energy security.

“The growth of much-needed energy storage projects, co-locating alongside wind and solar farms, is currently being hindered by out-dated policies and regulations which were drawn up in a different era. There isn’t even a clear definition of co-location applied consistently across planning policies, grid and market arrangements - which is one of the factors hindering the speed of deployment of co-located projects.

“Renewable energy developers should be able to include co-location in their business plans more easily, with a clearer rules and regulations being put in place to unleash the benefits which co-located projects can provide to the system and ultimately to consumers. Building a more flexible system by tackling the current barriers to co-location will require a coordinated effort and a holistic strategy cutting across markets, grid, planning and technical barriers, as this report shows. Although this is challenging, it will ultimately benefit billpayers in the long term by cutting electricity system costs”.

RenewableUK’s report “𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼-𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺", is available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

The UK offshore wind industry already employs 32,000 people and each new large offshore wind farm adds £2-3bn to the economy. Employment is set to rise to over 100,000 by 2030 and investment in new offshore wind projects will create an economic opportunity worth up to £92bn for the UK by 2040.

The measures set out in the Industrial Growth Plan (IGP) would support an additional 10,000 jobs a year and boost the UK’s economy by a further £25 billion between now and 2035, if we accelerate offshore wind deployment in line with our net zero targets to 5-6 gigawatts a year. The UK has the second largest global pipeline of offshore wind projects at all stages of development at nearly 100GW - more than six times our current capacity.

As the Growth Plan’s analysis shows, supply chain constraints in many of the key components needed in offshore wind farms are already starting to be felt in the global market. The IGP identifies strategic new factories and manufacturing capabilities which the UK should build up to protect against supply chain risks and boost economic growth.

The IGP identifies five key technology areas in which the UK should prioritise investment to secure value for UK industry. These include the design and manufacture of offshore wind blades and turbine towers, foundations, cables and other key components and services for projects here and abroad.

The Growth Plan also highlights the industry’s potential to drive technology innovation, accelerate deployment and cut environmental impacts even further by incorporating automation and AI technologies in new projects. It sets out plans to expand testing facilities for cutting-edge technology, such as new materials for blades and designs for floating offshore wind platforms, as part of a focus on Research and Development at a potential new Advanced Technology Institute and a new National Innovation Hub, working in harmony with UK's world-class Catapult network.  

The plan aims to provide a shared vision which enables industry, Governments across the UK and other funders to better align their investments to boost green jobs and manufacturing in the UK. The plan envisages mobilising nearly £3 billion of funding nationwide, with private finance doing the heavy lifting. This will bring a return to our economy of just under £9 for every £1 invested. 

Industry will now take forward proposals to set up an IGP Delivery Body, in collaboration with key partners, which will set out the detail of how we govern and deliver the IGP in a way that ensures the best use is made of funding provided by the industry, the Government’s Green Industry Growth Accelerator (GIGA) fund, The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator, Scottish Government funding and other sources. To meet the ambition of the Industrial Growth Plan, the Delivery Body should be established by the end of the year.  

The Industrial Growth Plan is part of wider efforts to boost investment in the UK in the context of increasing global competition for clean energy technology. Many of the UK’s competitors have introduced new incentives to attract investment in offshore wind projects and domestic manufacturing, hoping to replicate Britain’s success in offshore wind.  The plan sets out a targeted approach which builds on our existing national capabilities, growing our economy, generating employment and securing the UK's leadership in international export markets. 

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “Our Industrial Growth Plan is the deepest dive ever into the offshore wind supply chain, identifying the highest-value components and services which the UK should focus on to get the biggest economic bang for our buck from future wind farm development.  For example, it shows that the UK will need three hundred giant turbine towers every year for offshore wind projects between now and 2030 to deliver Government targets. The plan charts a clear course for us to ensure that we seize that massive economic opportunity and maximise our opportunities to manufacture those towers here, along with more blades, cables, foundations and a whole range of other products.

“By using this as a blueprint to work closely with all our partners in the sector, we can triple the size of that supply chain, ramp up our offshore wind capacity significantly and secure a huge increase in jobs, all within the next ten years”. 

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: "Britain’s windswept shorelines give us a competitive advantage in the global race for energy. That's why, since 2010, Britain has been second only to China in building new offshore wind. 

"The plans set out by industry today will work with our £1 billion Green Industries Growth Accelerator to make sure the UK can build out the supply chain - including the turbine blades and high-voltage cables that we will need to produce cheaper, cleaner, more secure energy."

The Co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) Richard Sandford said:  “OWIC stands firmly behind the plan to accelerate the growth of our domestic offshore wind supply chain, building on the successes already delivered through funding the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, and taking full advantage of Britain's global leadership in offshore wind. We look forward to working with colleagues across Government, The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland and the wider industry, as we implement the strategic measures set out in the Industrial Growth Plan. These will help us to build up our world-class supply chain with new facilities in the UK, providing innovative products and highly-prized expertise for projects here and all over the world in an intensely competitive multi-billion pound export market”.

Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “To truly make the most of the shift to renewable energy, we must also view the UK’s energy transition as an economic and jobs transition. Our offshore wind industry is already world leading but as demand for wind technology increases further, both nationally and on a global level, the UK must be on the front foot investing in and developing its supply chain to accelerate growth within the sector.

“Establishing this supply chain will take co-ordination and collaboration across UK governments and industry, and the IGP provides the detail needed to target those areas where we can have the biggest impact. As an early action, The Crown Estate is establishing a £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator to catalyse early-stage investment, with an initial £10 million pilot fund launching this summer to support supply chain opportunities created through the Celtic Sea Leasing Round 5 and a further £40 million earmarked aligned to the IGP.”

Sian Wilson, Director of Marine (interim), Crown Estate Scotland said: “The success of recent leasing rounds in Scotland demonstrates the huge appetite to ensure that offshore wind, especially floating turbines, lie at the heart of the just transition to net-zero. This Industrial Growth Plan is central to coordinating effective collaboration of innovation and investment effort, all of which are important for successfully developing and delivering a supply chain system which can fulfil the needs of ScotWind and other offshore leasing programmes, which are essential to achieve a green energy future.” 

The Industrial Growth Plan is available here in full.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.

2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

The latest Energy Trends report by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero also shows that offshore wind generated 17.3% of our electricity in 2023(compared to 13.8% in 2022), and onshore wind provided 11.4% (compared to 10.8% in 2022), setting new annual percentage records in both technologies.   

Overall, renewables outperformed fossil fuels for a third year by generating 47.3% of the UK’s electricity, another new annual record (up from 41.5% in 2022), compared to 36.3% from oil, gas and coal – a record annual low from fossil fuels (which produced 40.8% in 2022) - most of which came from gas (34.3% in 2023). 

The Government’s statistics also show new quarterly highs in the last 3 months of 2023. This was the first quarter in which wind generated more electricity than gas, providing the largest share of generation by any technology in the UK – over 50% for the first time in a quarterly period (51.5%).  Renewables overall also generated a record amount of electricity (39.9 terawatt hours) – an increase of 4.9% on the same quarter in the previous year , due to high generation from wind, which set a new quarterly record of 26.4TWh (up 1.5%). 

Commenting on today’s statistics, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Policy Ana Musat said:  “These official figures show that renewables have outstripped fossil fuels yet again and provided more of the UK’s annual electricity needs than ever before, with wind leading the way as our biggest source of clean power.

“With renewables, we can strengthen Britain’s energy security with the cheapest sources of new power available for billpayers. That’s why we’re urging Ministers to work with us to increase the number shovel-ready renewable energy projects which the Government could bring forward through this year’s auction for Contracts for Difference auction.  This will enable us maximise deployment, strengthen skills and grow new supply chains, as we continue to create jobs all around the country”.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. Total UK electricity generation in 2023: 285.6 terawatt hours (TWh). Renewables: 135TWh, offshore wind 49.5TWh, onshore wind 32.4TWh, all wind 82TWh, fossil fuels 103TWh.
   
   
3. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“The UK is a world leader in offshore wind, and you can travel to parts of Wales like Mostyn where people are already employed in roles maintaining the North Hoyle, Rhyl Flats and Gwynt-y-Mor wind farms. However, the development of floating wind at scale offers opportunities for us to build a far greater number of offshore wind farms in deeper, windier waters in the Celtic Sea, off the coast of South Wales and the south west of England, providing vast amounts of home-blown clean power.

"We're delighted that Keir Starmer, Vaughan Gething and the Labour team are so committed to developing floating wind, and that they recognise the huge economic opportunity this innovative technology offers for the south west of England and Wales, particularly if we can develop ports like Milford Haven and Port Talbot to ensure they’re large enough to house new manufacturing and assembly facilities for turbines as tall as The Shard and platforms the size of football pitches.

"There is currently a huge decision on the desk of Government when it comes to floating offshore wind. The UK could unlock investment in the Erebus wind farm this year, a world-leading project off the coast of Pembrokeshire, in addition to two other projects off the coasts of Scotland the north east of England, through its upcoming clean power auction this summer. However, the budget set out for that auction is too low, putting progress at risk, so we're calling on Government to revise this at the earliest opportunity.”

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

The applications for funding from the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) by Associated British Ports (ABP) Port Talbot in Wales and the Port of Cromarty Firth in Scotland will be taken forward for further consideration by DESNZ before any final decisions are taken later this year.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive and Co-Chair of the Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce Dan McGrail commented:

“I’m very pleased to see that two of the UK’s major ports have reached the next stage of the process in potentially securing funding to transform their sites into industrial hubs for floating offshore wind. We already have one of the biggest pipelines of floating wind projects in the world - now we need to ensure we take advantage of this global leadership position by building a flourishing supply chain for the sector in the UK. We need to upgrade and upscale our ports so that they’re able to manufacture and assemble the large components of floating offshore wind turbines which will be over 250 meters tall on platforms the size of football pitches”.

“Ultimately we need to upgrade eleven ports around the UK to maximise the industrial opportunities this cutting-edge technology has to offer. Our analysis shows that £4 billion of private and public investment in ports by the end of the decade would drive £18 billion of wider economic activity. So whilst today’s announcement is a welcome step, we need to keep a continued focus on unlocking private investment in ports going forward”. 

The Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce has stated that every £1 invested in UK port facilities would generate up to £4.30 of added value to our economy, and by 2040, the floating wind industry could support 45,000 jobs across the UK, with 34GW fully operational. RenewableUK predicts that floating wind will represent well over half of the UK’s offshore wind generation by 2050. Floating wind projects can be built in deeper waters further out to sea where wind speeds are even higher.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. The UK has 80 megawatts (MW) of floating wind fully operationalacross 2 projects - Hywind and Kincardine (second only to Norway which has 93.9MW fully operational across 3 projects). The Government has set a target of 5 gigawatts (GW) of operational floating wind capacity by 2030.
   
   
3. The UK’s total floating wind pipeline of projects at all stages of development (operational, under construction, consented, in the planning system or in early development) stands at 36.1 gigawatts (GW) across 49 projects (second only to Italy which has a total pipeline of 43.4GW across 48 projects, most of which are at an early stage of development).
   
   
4. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“Reinforcing and expanding our electricity grid is long overdue. It’s essential that we don’t delay any longer and get on with the job, to ensure that we can get the vast quantities of clean power which we’re generating from offshore wind to British homes and businesses as efficiently as possible. This investment in new networks is absolutely vital, to slash bills, make our economy more competitive and boost Britain’s energy security.

“The measures set out in this ambitious plan put offshore wind at the heart of our future energy system, enabling us to decarbonise our electricity network by 2035 and securing our position as a global leader in this key technology. 

“This report shows that building vital new grid will create 20,000 new jobs and boost our economy by £15 billion in parts of the country which need regeneration. It also highlights the fact that local communities will have a strong voice in the wide-ranging consultations which will determine how these plans are delivered in a way which minimises environmental impacts , and that local benefit funds will be set up to recognise communities hosting new grid”.     

Polling by Survation, commissioned by RenewableUK, published in August 2023 shows that nearly two-thirds of people (64%) support the development of new electricity grid infrastructure to enable the decarbonisation of the UK economy and improve Britain’s energy security, while only 5% oppose it. 

Significantly, the polling also found that 59% of people would be more approving of a powerline within 5 miles of their home if there was  “Clarity on how the new powerline fits into a long-term national plan to increase the UK’s energy security” – which is what has now been published by National Grid ESO.

More details on the polling are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“The Government’s new system of Sustainable Industry Rewards fits into a much wider suite of measures to support the development of the UK’s offshore wind supply chain which the sector is supportive of, including the Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA) and the upcoming Industrial Growth Plan (IGP). We’re pleased to see that the Government is continuing to consult with industry on the development of SIRs and note that several changes have already been made to the proposals since the last consultation which will improve the scheme for wind farm developers. We’d advise the Government to give this framework an ambitious budget in due course, to meet our shared objectives.

“If SIRs are implemented in the right way, we can grow our offshore wind supply chain throughout the UK, supporting new manufacturing, job creation, technical innovation and investment in skills.  This will enable us to build new projects faster, deliver value for consumers, accelerate our transition to clean, low-cost power and strengthen Britian’s energy security significantly.

“This initiative is particularly timely as the global offshore wind supply chain is constrained, so growing our industrial capability will place the UK in a strong position to sell our world-class goods and services here and abroad”.

More details on the Government’s plans to introduce Sustainable Industry Rewards are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

The Government has put forward proposals to change how electricity markets operate. A sensible reform package arising from the Review of Electricity Markets (REMA) is essential to ensure we continue to accelerate private investment in clean electricity generation and build a cost-effective system but certain options could do more harm than good, says the renewable energy industry.

One of the measures on the table is a move to zonal pricing, which would divide the wholesale electricity market into zones with different prices. In theory, this should incentivise generation to locate close to demand and alleviate constraints on the transmission grid. Although it is positive to see that this consultation now discards the earlier option of moving to a nodal pricing system (with the price set at hundreds of nodes across the transmission system), we remain sceptical about the claimed benefits of a zonal system.

Zonal would introduce additional uncertainty into the market, raising the cost of capital for renewable energy at a time when we need to deploy around 10 gigawatts of renewable electricity generation capacity each year until 2035 to meet our targets and deliver a lowest cost clean energy system for billpayers.

“Consulting on the best arrangements to underpin our future electricity markets is essential given the levels of system transformation we have seen just in the last decade. We are glad to see the REMA consultation move away from the concept of nodal pricing, which would have been lengthy and expensive to implement and would have provided a disincentive to investment in renewable generation. The consultation is still inviting views on whether zonal pricing can be feasibly introduced while maintaining investor certainty. However, given stronger locational constraints faced by projects - such as planning hurdles, including a de-facto ban on onshore wind in England or grid connections, the influence of zonal pricing on location choices will likely be limited,” said Ana Musat, Executive Director for Policy & Engagement at RenewableUK.

“We welcome this next round of consultation on the electricity market arrangements, as we look to establish a new electricity system: renewables-based and renewables-led, with electricity prices decoupled from the price of gas, and so limiting costs to the consumer,” said Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy and Delivery at Solar Energy UK.

But Solar Energy UK and RenewableUK, the voices of the UK’s solar and wind power industries, have fundamental concerns about the proposals.

Investment

The disruption caused by the implementation of zonal pricing could create uncertainty for investors in renewable energy, increasing the costs of financing projects. Ultimately, this could end up adding unnecessary costs onto renewable energy projects. It is also unlikely that such a system could be implemented in less than 7 years, as experience from Canada, Australia and Texas suggests. The Energy System Operator (ESO) has dismissed the prospect of doing so next year.

Furthermore, a substantial amount of the theorised benefits of zonal pricing would arise from reducing constraint costs between 2025 and 2030, which would be unlikely to emerge if the reforms cannot be completed in a timely fashion.

Future gas

A further aspect of the reforms concerns the capacity market, designed to encourage investment in backup power supply and to ensure existing generators remain open.

“While the Government has chosen to emphasise the potential role of backup gas power in its announcement today, the renewables industry is doing all it can to deliver a carbon-free electricity system. New, grid-scale energy storage can make this a reality by storing power from renewables, enabling us to use clean, affordable power 24/7, 365 days a year. The storage sector is set to grow leaps and bounds in the coming years, to keep pace with the renewables revolution,” said Grimes.

Open-cycle gas power stations, which dominate the capacity market, are an inefficient technology that was first developed in the 1930s. In contrast, modern grid-scale energy storage can supply vast quantities of green energy in an instant, making it the perfect partner for variable renewables.

Ends

1.  RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 400 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.

2.RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

[1] Review of electricity market arrangements

[2] Energy Secretary takes decisive action to reinforce UK energy supply (DESNZ)

[3]The costs of Locational Marginal Pricing outweigh the benefits, it’s time to look at other reforms (RenewableUK)

[4] Wild Texas Wind: Regen Insight Paper on Locational Marginal Pricing

[5] Assessment of Investment Policy and Market Design Packages (ESO)

RenewableUK is celebrating a new clean energy milestone, as 15 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity are now fully operational throughout the country - enough to power 9.9 million homes all year round. 

The project which enabled the UK to cross the 15GW threshold is EDF Renewables UK’s West Benhar onshore wind farm in North Lanarkshire, with a capacity of 30.1 megawatts (MW), consisting of seven turbines. It brings the UK’s onshore wind capacity to 15.002GW across 2,631 projects. This represents significant progress since the UK’s first commercial wind farm, Delabole in Cornwall, opened in 1991 with a capacity of just 4MW. Onshore wind now provides 11% of Britain’s electricity a year.

Matthieu Hue, Chief Executive of EDF Renewables UK commented:  “It is great to see the impact that our efforts as a business and as part of the wider industry are having on accelerating the journey to net zero. Onshore wind has a major part to play in reaching UK’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Opening West Benhar wind farm in recent weeks is a positive step to realising the country’s ambitions. We have worked closely with the local supply chain and communities throughout the project, investing millions in contracts with Scottish and UK companies to construct the wind farm. Over £4.5million will be re-invested back into the local community over the wind farm’s lifespan. It is a great reminder of the huge positive impact brought by onshore wind farm investments to the UK.”

Most of the UK’s onshore wind fleet is Scotland with 9.4GW up and running, which is 63% of our total onshore wind capacity. In England, where the de facto ban on onshore wind introduced in 2015 is still largely in place, 2.93GW is fully operational (less than 20% of the UK’s capacity). Only one new turbine has gone live in England since the start of 2023, and one other is under construction. Northern Ireland has 1.35GW (9% of UK onshore wind capacity) and Wales has 1.26GW (8%).

The Climate Change Committee has advised the Government that the UK needs to install 35GW of onshore wind by 2035 as a key step to reaching net zero. 

RenewableUK's Head of Policy James Robottom said: "It's great to see West Benhar going fully operational - this excellent Scottish project boosts the UK's total onshore wind capacity to over 15 gigawatts, which is a major milestone for the industry, strengthening our energy security and providing clean electricity for consumers from one of our cheapest sources of new power. 

“We welcome the Government’s announcement this week of the budget for this year’s auction for new clean energy projects. It’s important to ensure that the UK maximises the amount of new onshore wind and solar capacity we secure in this year’s auction, to benefit local communities and help to grow our supply chain". 

"We're urging the Government to set an ambitious UK-wide target of 30 gigawatts of onshore wind by 2030, so that we can maximise the economic benefits of this technology throughout the country. Our research shows this would boost the economy by £45 billion and create 27,000 jobs. We need to accelerate the build out of new projects in areas where local communities support onshore wind if we're to double our capacity by the end of the decade and get closer to the Government’s net zero target.

“To achieve this, we need to see more projects going ahead in England in areas where they have local community support. Despite the very minimal changes to planning policy announced by the Government in September, we still face an English planning system which is stacked against onshore wind, treating it differently to every other energy source or infrastructure project. Under the current rules we’re not going to see investment in new projects at anything like the scale needed to reinvigorate onshore wind in England after nine years of lost progress. New planning policies could unlock green growth and bring economic benefits to communities which are currently being denied opportunities to benefit from onshore wind”.  

A summary of UK wind energy statistics is available here.

More details on RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse database, which includes marketing intelligence on UK wind energy projects, is available here.

More information about EDF Renewables UK’s West Benhar project is available here. Please credit the photo below to EDF Renewables UK:

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.

2.  More details on the CCC’s recommendation of 35GW of UK onshore wind by 2035, made in its Net Zero Technical report, are available here.

3.  RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

Commenting on the Government’s announcement that more than £1 billion of funding will be available for this year’s auction for new clean energy projects (Allocation Round 6), and that £800 million of this will be available for new offshore wind  farms, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

“We welcome this budget increase, as it recognises that global economic conditions have changed, and it will secure a significant amount of new offshore wind capacity and private investment, as well as creating thousands of new jobs.

“However, the Treasury has missed the opportunity to maximise the amount of capacity which the UK could have secured in this year’s auction for new offshore wind farms.  We have more than 10 gigawatts of capacity eligible to bid in this summer. Building this is essential if we’re to make up lost ground from last year’s auction and create the substantial pipeline required to accelerate supply chain investment and growth in the UK. This funding will only secure between 3 to 5 gigawatts.

“This means a delay in attracting billions of pounds in private investment which we could have secured in this year’s auction to build and operate these projects, and opportunities to grow our supply chain to provide goods and services for projects here and abroad will not be maximised”.  

RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse Insights Offshore Wind report shows that 14 offshore wind farms are currently eligible to bid into this year’s auction (AR6) for Contracts for Difference (CfDs), totalling nearly 10.3 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity.

Dan McGrail added: “Offshore wind is one of the UK’s cheapest sources of new power and is vital in boosting our energy security and independence from expensive imported gas. That’s why we’re urging Ministers to be more ambitious in revising this year’s auction budget upwards if new projects are consented in time, and to aim high in future annual auction rounds. This would enable them to get closer to their own target of 50 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 – over three times our current capacity. At the current pace, this target looks unachievable.

“This is crucial at a time of intense competition in the international offshore wind market, in which the UK is a global leader - although  many other countries are taking bold steps to try to steal our crown by offering attractive incentives to build projects elsewhere”.

The UK currently has 14.7GW of fully operational offshore wind, which generates 14% of our electricity a year. Just one gigawatt of offshore wind generates enough electricity to power over a million British homes for a year. 

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

Delivering a net zero energy system requires bold collaboration across a range of sectors and disciplines. A new initiative between the Aldersgate Group, RenewableUK, and CPRE, the countryside charity aims to deliver this, by examining how the planning system needs to change to achieve net zero. Together, this collaboration will investigate how the policy landscape can enable the decarbonisation of our energy system whilst protecting landscapes, nature and communities’ right to input.

Our climate is changing and we need to act quickly to protect our economy, wellbeing, and natural environment. This includes decarbonising our energy system so that we can heat our homes and power industry with significantly reduced impact on the climate. To generate and transport green electricity we need new infrastructure, not just wind turbines and solar panels but also the cables and substations to bring electricity to our homes and businesses.

Our planning system needs to be improved if progress towards net zero is to be sped up. To meet the targets to decarbonise the electricity system set by political parties – 2035 by the Conservatives, 2030 by Labour – and meet growing demand for electricity, new infrastructure must be built rapidly. National Grid ESO projections suggest the UK needs to build over five times as many new high-voltage transmission lines by 2030 as have been delivered over the last 30 years.

The system needs to change if clean energy targets are to be met, economic growth and productivity unlocked and negative climate impacts avoided. That is why this collaborative project was formed, bringing together a range of organisations to reach a consensus on a set of shared principles for a new system that enables rapid decarbonisation. We recognise that transformational change needs transformational thinking. The UK needs a planning system that facilitates net zero and protects the environment, while allowing space for civil society and communities to have influence.

The project is now underway and will deliver interim findings and in spring, followed by final recommendations in the autumn.

Roger Mortlock, CPRE, the countryside charity CEO said:

“Climate change is the biggest threat our countryside faces. To protect its future for us all, we want to make sure that our transition to a net zero energy system is done in the best way, with new infrastructure in the right places. That means protecting the landscapes we all value, helping to restore nature, and shoring up meaningful community and civil society influence. We’re committed to collaborating to find solutions so we’re looking forward to working on this initiative with Aldersgate Group and RenewableUK.”

RenewableUK's Head of Policy James Robottom said:

“If we are to build the renewable energy we need to reach net-zero and achieve better economic growth and productivity, we desperately need a planning system that is well-resourced, timely and proportionate. We need major upgrades to grid infrastructure which have to be delivered at pace to capitalise on the economic and environmental opportunity the transition provides. We need a planning system that encourages good quality applications which make the best, most efficient use of the available resources and land, whilst engaging closely with communities and stakeholders, ensuring that they continue to have meaningful input into decisions throughout the process.”

The Aldersgate Group’s Executive Director, Rachel Solomon Williams, said:

“I am excited about this project because it will bring together a broad cross-section of business and society to consider a live national conundrum: how the planning system can support the decarbonisation of the grid while also protecting our valuable natural environment. A planning system that functions smoothly and predictably would be transformative for the economy, the environment and communities. This project aims to offer practical next steps which could help to move the system in that direction, as part of the wider ongoing debate on how we make decisions about our land use.”

(ends) 

In his Autumn Statement in November, the Chancellor announced £960m of funding for the new Green Industries Growth Accelerator. The extra £120m to be announced in Wednesday’s Budget will increase this to nearly £1.1 billion.

RenewableUK wrote to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last month setting four key measures to secure green jobs and investment in the clean energy sector. These included committing up to £400m of GIGA funding to co-invest with the private sector and grow the offshore wind supply chain, boosting economic activity across the country. The Treasury has just announced that the Chancellor will confirm on Wednesday that £390 million of GIGA funding will be used to expand UK-based supply chains for the offshore wind industry and electricity networks.

To build on the positive signals from today’s announcement, we’re asking for additional measures to accelerate the roll-out of renewables. In our submission to the Treasury, we also highlighted the fact that Increasing investment in port infrastructure is essential, so that they can be upgraded to handle the manufacture and assembly of giant offshore turbines. Up to 11 ports around the UK will need to be transformed into new industrial hubs to enable the roll-out of floating wind at scale. Government funding would unlock the necessary private investment in ports, creating tens of thousands of new jobs. Every £1 invested in UK port facilities would generate up to £4.30 of added value to our economy, and by 2040, the floating offshore wind industry will support 45,000 jobs across the UK.

Industry is also encouraging the Government to set out an ambitious budget and parameters for this summer’s Contracts for Difference auction to maximise the amount of new clean energy capacity we can secure this year, following last year’s disappointing auction which failed to attract any offshore wind bids. This would not only unlock billions of pounds of inward investment into the UK, but also bolster the UK’s energy security, with new wind farms remaining one of the lowest cost means of generating new electricity for billpayers. 

To keep the UK internationally competitive, we are calling for the Chancellor to provide tax relief for investors in clean energy projects, supply chains and training schemes, as the incentives being offered by the USA and the EU are making them increasingly attractive. We are also recommending an increase in funding for research and development in innovative technologies such as floating offshore wind, tidal stream, green hydrogen and energy storage. This would ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the development of these technologies, so that we can capitalise on future global markets for them.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “The Chancellor has a great opportunity in his Spring Budget speech to build on growing investor confidence in the UK and put us ahead of our global competitors in the escalating global race to build new clean energy projects and, crucially, to seize new manufacturing and supply chain opportunities. The increase in GIGA funding to secure further private investment in green manufacturing jobs will enable us to supply more goods and services to projects here and aboard. It’s also good to see that nearly £400m of that funding will be used specifically to grow our offshore wind supply chain and electricity networks.

“Overall, the four key steps that we have set out would enable the UK to secure billions of extra private investment and create tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs all around the country - especially in coastal communities where we can build up new industries like floating wind.

“Worldwide demand for the high-tech components and services needed to build new projects is ratcheting up, so there’s never been a better time for the Chancellor to make Britain the best destination for international investment in renewables”.

Further details of the Treasury’s announcement are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“We talk so much about future jobs in green industries that some people forget that there are already tens of thousands of people across the UK working in the clean energy sector today. This report makes clear that in places like Grimsby, Blyth, Hull and Barrow which are hubs of the offshore wind sector, and Sheffield where we have a growing green hydrogen industry, people now have lived experience of the benefits of clean energy investment in their communities - and that voters may consider this at the ballot box this year. As many of these areas are marginal constituencies, we may see each party’s policies on green growth making a considerable difference to the outcome of the next election.

"The UK also has an opportunity to unlock billions of pounds in further green investment by the private sector, and create thousands of new high-wage jobs, particularly if the Government encourages the growth of innovative technologies like floating wind and tidal stream, and nurtures UK supply chain companies which provide components and services for clean energy projects here and abroad. To make the most of this opportunity, we need to maximise the amount of new renewable energy we secure in each annual auction for new clean energy projects, reform the planning system to make it more agile, and rapidly build new grid infrastructure to get cheap clean power to consumers more efficiently".     

The ECIU’s report is available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse Insights Offshore Wind report reveals that 14 wind farms are already eligible to bid into this year’s CfD auction (Allocation Round 6), providing nearly 10.3 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity. The previous records were set in 2022 when 8.5GW was eligible across 7 projects.

In addition to this, a further 4.7GW of new offshore wind capacity (out of 8.7GW in the planning system) could become eligible before applications open for AR6 at the end of March. If these projects were to receive consent from the Government, 14.9GW of offshore wind capacity would be eligible for this year’s auction. The report notes that being eligible does not mean that projects will choose to bid in - but they have the potential to do so.

To put this 14.9GW of potential new capacity into context, we currently have 14.7GW of fully operational offshore wind which generates 14% of the UK’s entire electricity needs. Just one gigawatt of offshore wind generates enough electricity to power over a million British homes for a year. 

The report also shows that a further 5.2GW are already under construction in UK waters,  and it forecasts that nearly 45GW could be fully operational by the end of 2030. 

The Government is due to set out the overall budget and parameters for this summer’s  auction next month, so RenewableUK is calling for Ministers to aim high to maximise the amount of capacity we can secure. Offshore wind is one of the UK’s cheapest sources of new power and is vital in boosting our energy security and independence from expensive imported power.

The report also shows that global operational offshore wind capacity has reached over  70GW for the first time (70.2GW), up from 62.3GW at this time last year, a 12.5% increase in 12 months. The top countries in terms of installed capacity are China (34.7GW), the UK (14.7GW), and Germany (8.3GW), as this graph shows:

The report includes a summary of global offshore wind activity in 2023, in which 7.6GW of capacity went fully operational globally, whilst over 21GW reached a final investment decision. 68% of capacity which went fully operational in 2023 was in two markets – China (4.1GW) and the UK (1.1GW).

The global total pipeline of projects in all stages of development (operational, under construction, consented, in the planning system or in early development) now stands at 1,078GW across 1,461 projects in 41 countries; China is top with 195.5GW, the UK second at 99.5GW and Sweden third with 85GW:

The report forecasts that total global capacity could reach over 340GW by the end of 2030 - almost a fivefold increase from today, with 46% of this capacity in Chinese waters.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

“Our latest EnergyPulse report highlights the enormous opportunity which the Government has to strengthen the UK’s energy security, with a record number of new offshore wind farms eligible to bid into this year’s clean power auction, and a record amount of new capacity.

As offshore wind farms are one of our cheapest sources of new power for billpayers, we’re urging Ministers to be ambitious when they set out the auction budget and parameters next month. If this is done in the right way, we can secure billions in private investment, driving the growth of the UK’s offshore wind supply chain and new jobs in the sector.”

“The report also shows that offshore wind is ramping up worldwide at an astonishing pace - and that despite fierce global competition, the UK continues to be a world leader in this vital technology. In this year’s auction, we have the potential to prove again that Britain is one of the best places to invest in new offshore wind projects”.

More details about our EnergyPulse report, which are available to RenewableUK members, are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.

2. The 14 UK offshore wind projects which are currently eligible to bid into AR6 are:

   
    Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East (2,760MW)

    Hornsea Four (2,600MW)

    Awel y Môr (1,100MW)

    East Anglia TWO (900MW)

    East Anglia ONE North (800MW) 

    Hornsea Three (753.1MW)

    Seagreen 1A (500MW)

    East Anglia THREE (318MW)

    Inch Cape (270MW)

    Pentland (floating project) (100MW)

    Erebus (floating project) (100MW)

    Blyth 2 (floating project) (58MW)

    Forthwind (test and demonstration site) (8MW)

    Total: 10,267MW

    (The global statistics do not include potential future projects which overlap each other).

    Further information about RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse reports is available here.

3. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“We’re pleased to be working with the Government on updating the Community Benefits Protocol for Onshore Wind in England. The onshore wind industry wants to continue to engage with local communities in a way which is flexible and transparent, to build trust and ensure communities see tangible benefits and continue to be involved in decision making.

“The Government is right to focus on early engagement and good practice guidelines, as they are vital in building strong relationships between onshore wind developers and local communities. This is already widespread throughout the industry.

“Developers already provide a wide range of benefits, from funding community projects to local electricity discount schemes. Flexibility is vital - it should be up to communities to decide what form the benefit will take, working closely with developers on a voluntary approach, and depending on the size of the wind farm. 

“It makes sense to set a standard level for community benefit funds across the UK of £5,000 per megawatt of capacity. Communities can expect consistency across the country. It also provides certainty for investors and developers about the expectations placed on them.

“It’s also important to highlight the fact that communities in England will not be able to benefit from these funds unless there is significant planning reform. The Government’s changes to planning policy in September don’t really remove the current de-facto ban on onshore wind.

“Communities in England can’t benefit from a wind farm proposal that’s never put to them because the planning system is too difficult for developers to navigate. We need to end the unique restrictions on onshore wind and treat it like any other energy infrastructure”.

More on the Government’s consultation outcome, “Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England,”  is available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

She will join our team on 2^nd April, taking over from Vicky Mant who has worked for RenewableUK for five years and has developed our commercial activities extensively.

Liz is currently Head of Venue Sales at Manchester Central and has been a key contact for our events team for several years, working with them on our Global Offshore Wind conferences and exhibitions. She has spent the last ten years at Manchester Central leading the commercial team during a period of rapid growth and development. Prior to this, she worked for a global events company in the energy sector.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “Liz is a truly accomplished commercial leader with a terrific track record, working tirelessly to make Manchester Central a world-class venue. She also has an astute understanding of RenewableUK, having worked closely with us for a decade. I’m sure she will bring great energy and leadership to RenewableUK and help us to expand our commercial activities even further when she hits the ground running in April”.

Liz Conboy said: “I am delighted to be joining RenewableUK to lead the fantastic commercial team, which is already doing such impressive and important work. I’m equally enthusiastic to return to the energy sector at a pivotal time for the renewable energy industry. I relish the opportunity to champion the activities of RenewableUK’s varied membership base and connect with new partners. I can’t wait to get started!”

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• David Stewart, Senior Communication Officer, 07930614208, David.Stewart@renewableuk.com
  

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“It’s encouraging that the Labour Party remains clear, publicly and privately, about its continued commitment to develop renewable energy as a means of driving economic growth across the UK. Crucially, in their updated plan, they are maintaining their pledges to providing incentives for clean energy manufacturing to build up new supply chains, including investment in ports to turn them into industrial hubs for offshore wind.

The offshore wind sector alone already employs thousands of workers at factories in coastal communities like Hull, Blyth, Hartlepool and the Isle of Wight. With the right support, the offshore wind supply chain could grow contribute £92bn to the UK economy by 2040. We’re pleased Labour recognises that opportunity.

“We should acknowledge that the bulk of funding for the energy transition is coming, and will come, from the private sector, but a stable and predictable business environment is critical in mobilising high levels of private investment. With the right policy framework in place, the renewable energy industry stands ready to invest billions in the UK, creating new jobs, increasing energy security and delivering low cost electricity for billpayers.

"We would encourage Labour to continue to take a partnership approach with us in developing an industrial strategy for the offshore wind sector and other key clean energy technologies. This is vital at a time when the USA and the EU countries are offering significant financial incentives to attract supply chain investments”.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“Andrew has played a crucial role in the birth and rapid development of the UK’s world-class wind industry, and indeed the global growth of the sector, so I am absolutely delighted that his pioneering work has been recognised in this prestigious award.

“His ground-breaking software has been used all over the world to optimise the amount of energy we can generate from wind, and his financial modelling has stimulated investment in new projects globally”.

“In the 1980s he was a Chairman of the British Wind Energy Association which became RenewableUK, so he helped to build us up into the UK’s leading renewable energy trade association, embracing a wide range of innovative technologies which generate cheap power and increase our energy security”.

Andrew Garrad shares the QEPrize with Henrik Stiesdal for his achievements in advancing the design, manufacture and deployment of high-performance wind turbines. Dan added:

“I’d also like to congratulate Henrik for his award which recognises his pivotal work in the development of turbine technology and the leading role he played in building the world’s first offshore wind farm off the coast of Denmark. This project kickstarted a whole new industry and pointed the way for the UK to become a leading player in this sector, placing offshore wind at the centre of our clean energy system”.        

More details about the 2024 QEPrize for Engineering are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“RWE’s decision to take over these massive projects is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s world-class offshore wind industry. These projects will bring billions in private investment to the UK, boosting our energy security and providing low-cost power for consumers in the years ahead.

“It comes just a day after Ørsted announced that it has reached Final Investment Decision on Hornsea 3, the biggest consented offshore wind project in the world - and on the same day that wind energy generation in the UK hit a new record high.

“This shows that Britain is regaining its position as the leading market for offshore wind investment, moving past the disappointment of this year’s CfD auction. We have to give a lot of credit to the Government and the new Secretary of State, who have been working even closer with the industry over the last two months, bringing forward a series of positive announcements including more sustainable administrative strike prices, permanent full expensing for investors in green technology and funding to support clean energy manufacturing in the UK. We’re now back on track  and we hope to secure a record amount of capacity in next year’s auctions for new clean energy projects”.

“I’d like to congratulate RWE for announcing their acquisition today, as these projects represent over 4 gigawatts of capacity - more than a quarter of our current offshore wind capacity overall,  as well as recognising the huge amount of hard work put in by Vattenfall to develop these major projects to this stage”.

More details on RWE’s acquisition are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

The record was set in the half-hour period between 8.00-8.30am this morning, providing 56% of Britain's electricity. This beats the previous record of 21.6GW set on 10th January this year.

RenewableUK's Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: "Setting a new wind energy record is a great achievement to celebrate during this festive period. Wind power is taking centre stage in our modern clean energy mix, strengthening our energy security and keeping Britain powered up at the coldest, darkest time of the year.

“In the new year, the renewable energy industry will be working closely with the Government to ensure that we maximise investment in new projects, most critically through the next auction for new clean energy projects, to lower everyone’s energy bills and get us to net zero as fast as possible. We’re calling for Ministers to be ambitious when they set out new parameters in March for next summer’s auction, which we hope will secure a record amount of new renewable energy capacity and boost jobs in the sector”.    

Although the latest statistics represent a new electricity generation record, the highest percentage of electricity generated from wind in a half-hour period is 69% on 19^th November this year.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

“This landmark decision enabling the biggest phase of the world’s largest consented offshore wind project to go ahead is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s cutting-edge offshore wind industry. To put this into context, Hornsea 3 is more than double the capacity of the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm Hornsea 2, so this represents a massive step forward in terms of sheer scale.

“Today’s announcement also shows that the Government has been listening to the industry after the disappointment of this summer’s CfD auction which procured no new offshore wind. The announcements made by Ministers over the last two months of more sustainable administrative strike prices, permanent full expensing for investors in green technologies and funding to support clean energy manufacturing in the UK are putting us back on track to make Britain one of the most attractive countries for international investors in offshore wind.

“The Government’s commitments to reform the planning system to make decisions faster and cut grid connection delays also send strong signals that the UK is one of the best offshore wind markets in the world. We’re looking forward to more key announcements in the new year, including the publication in March of further details on next year’s CfD auction, which we hope will secure a record annual amount of new clean energy capacity”.

Hornsea 3, located in the North Sea 160km off the coast of Yorkshire and 120 km from the coast of Norfolk, will generate enough electricity to power more than 3 million homes all year round. More details on the Hornsea 3 announcement (2,900 megawatts) are available here.

Details on Hornsea 2 (1,386MW), which is fully operational, are available here. Hornsea 1 (1,218MW) is also fully operational. Hornsea 4 (2,600MW) has been approved by the Secretary of State. The combined capacity of all four phases is 8,104MW (8.1GW), making it the world’s largest offshore wind zone.      

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

·             Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1.    RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry. 

2.    RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

Batteries play a key role in our modern flexible energy system, helping grid operators to finely balance the supply of electricity to meet demand at all times.  

Our EnergyPulse Energy Storage report shows that the total pipeline of battery projects has increased from 50.3 gigawatts (GW) a year ago to 84.8GW, an increase of 68.6% (34.5GW).

Operational battery storage capacity has grown to 3.5GW, and the capacity of projects under construction has reached 3.8GW. A further 24.5GW has been consented, 27.4GW has been submitted in the planning system and 25.7GW is at an early stage of development  but yet to be submitted. This chart shows the total UK battery portfolio in megawatts (MW):

England has 60% of the overall pipeline of UK projects (50,763MW) including the highest capacity of fully commissioned battery storage projects (2,872MW). Scotland has the second largest pipeline at 29,506MW.

There has been a shift towards larger projects, with the average size of those being submitted into the planning system this year increasing to 80MW. To put this into context, a 50MW battery can fully charge 2,000 electric vehicles. This growth has been achieved extremely rapidly – just over a decade ago the average project size was just 2MW, and by  2021 it had grown to 54MW.

An updated version of the report will be published in May next year, to coincide with our  annual Grid and Storage conference, which will be held in London.

RenewableUK’s Director of Future Electricity Systems Barnaby Wharton said:

“It’s great to see that our battery storage pipeline has grown by over-two-thirds over the last year, as this demonstrates that there’s a huge appetite among investors to enter this rapidly growing market. This puts us well on track to delivering the 30GW of flexibility which the Government says we will need by 2030 to ensure electricity supply always meets demand. Getting viable projects connected to the grid is a priority, and industry has welcomed progress on reforming the connections process.

“While the battery market is booming, we need investment in even larger projects to store energy for longer, unlocking further opportunities for us to scale up this cutting-edge technology. We’re still waiting for the Government to confirm how they will stabilise revenues for long duration projects.”

More details about our EnergyPulse reports, which are available to RenewableUK members, are available here.

More details on RenewableUK’s Grid and Storage event in London on May 2^nd are available here.

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. The statistics were compiled in December 2023.
   
   
3. Our EnergyPulse database aggregates publicly available data, which is usually presented in power (GW) rather than energy stored (GWh).
   This year’s report also includes modelled estimates of GWh statistics:
   Where the GWh of a project is not known, and assuming that projects greater than 50MW have a 2-hour duration, with smaller projects having a 1-hour duration, we have modelled that the UK has a totalpipeline of 156GWh of battery storage capacity. This includes 4.2GWh fully operational, 6.2GWh under construction, 42.6GWh consented, 53.5GWh in planning and 50.4GWh in pre-planning at an early stage of development.
   
   
4. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.

As a versatile energy source, green hydrogen remains a crucial piece of the UK’s energy security and net zero strategy. It can be used in parts of the electricity system which are hard to decarbonise, and can also be stored for whenever it is needed, providing flexibility to our power system and ensuring the UK can always meet its energy needs.

Acknowledging this, the Government has revised its target of 10 gigawatts (GW) of low carbon hydrogen by 2030 to better align with the escalating role anticipating for green hydrogen. 6GW of this target will now be supplied by green hydrogen generated from renewables (up from 5GW), while the remaining 4GW will be sourced from blue hydrogen.

In the first allocation round, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero invited green hydrogen developers to submit their projects for assessment to determine which would be deliverable and offer good value for money. Although 4 were unsuccessful, and 2 pulled out, 11 projects ranging from 5.2MW to 24.5MW have be awarded contracts at a weighted average strike price of £241/MWh. The successful developers will now need to reach Final Investment Decision within the next six months to take up their contracts.

The remaining capacity from the first allocation round will be carried over to the newly-launched Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2) to secure a further 875MW. The application window will run from now until April 2024, with results due to be published early 2025. HAR1 and HAR2 are aiming to deliver a total of 1GW of green hydrogen capacity (in construction or operation) by 2025.

Additionally, in a move advocated by RenewableUK, DESNZ has opted against competitive hydrogen auctions by 2025, adopting a more gradual approach instead. This means both HAR3 and HAR4 will be similar to previous rounds, but with an increasing focus on cost, with the latter including a bidding process rather than bilateral negotiations. Both these rounds will deliver up to 1.5GW of capacity in total. Further allocation rounds will take place on an annual basis, with the possibility of fully competitive auctions being introduced in Hydrogen Allocation Round 5 in 2027 at the earliest.

RenewableUK’s Senior Policy Analyst for Emerging Technologies Laurie Heyworth said:

“It’s great to see the UK leading the way on green hydrogen, with the largest number of commercial-scale projects announced at one time anywhere in Europe. This marks the beginning of the first major wave of larger-scale projects, enabling us to unlock £11bn in private investment by 2030 and to start building up UK-based supply chains.

“It comes at a time of acute international competition to develop innovative green technology, especially from the U.S. and Germany. The UK now has huge potential to become a world leader in green hydrogen with cutting-edge companies already operating successfully here, creating opportunities for us to export this technology worldwide.

“But to remain on track, we’ll need to see continuous improvements in future allocation rounds to ensure the deployment of much larger projects, which will catalyse cost reduction and enable us to deliver the UK’s world-leading hydrogen strategy in the 2030s”.    

(ends)

For further information, please contact:

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 490 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   
2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.