Four years ago the UK government put a block on any new onshore wind projects. On Monday The Guardian reported that the ban has officially been lifted, and they will hold an auction scheme for new power subsides.
The auction is set to take place next year, with the hope that new renewable projects can be running some time by the mid-2020s. This is to reach the goal of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, climate advisors said the UK would need to triple its use of onshore wind-power within the next 15 years.
Renewable UK’s Chief Executive, Hugh McNeal spoke about how this is not only necessary but will help out economically as well: “Backing cheap renewables is a clear example of the practical action to tackle climate change that the public is demanding,” [providing a] “huge boost for jobs and investment in local economies across the UK.”
A campaigner for the climate change charity Possible, Alethea Warrington applauded the decision to lift the onshore wind ban, stating:
We can finally celebrate the UK’s cheapest new energy source – onshore wind – being brought in from the cold. As our cheapest source of clean energy, onshore wind is hugely popular with people in the UK, who understand that we need to use all the tools in the box to tackle the climate crisis.
The current UK energy policies revealed that since the energy block has been in place, it would be in jeopardy of reaching its set climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2019 numbers showed only 23 new onshore wind projects, compared to 405 projects in 2014.
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of Scottish Power commented on the government’s decision:
Onshore wind is a crucial tool in tackling climate change – it’s cheap, it’s clean and it’s quick to build. As a responsible developer, we work hard to secure the support of local communities. [This is] one of the first clear signs that the government really means business.
The lifting of this ban is still going to require consent from local communities, and respect existing planning codes. For wind-farm developers to be eligible for next years’ auction they will need to agree to new proposals regarding the said community consent.
The UK Secretary of State for Business and Energy, Alok Sharma said to make the UK a world leader in renewable energy, the government will implement this “in a way that works for everyone, listening to local communities and giving them an effective voice in decisions that affect them.”
Sharma goes on to say:
As our cheapest source of clean energy, onshore wind is hugely popular with people in the UK, who understand that we need to use all the tools in the box to tackle the climate crisis.
Getting community support is going to be a key in all of this. The government needs to help convince people that this is not only in the best interests of the country but of the world.
John Sauven, the Executive Director of Greenpeace UK emphasized the many benefits of this now lifted the onshore ban and the importance of community backing:
Onshore wind and solar are not only some of the cheapest sources of energy, reducing costs for everyone, but they are a vital part of putting the UK on track to net zero as quickly as possible. The Government now needs to engage with local communities in order to get large amounts of onshore wind and solar off the ground.
