UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has confirmed the government will establish an onshore wind taskforce to “drive forward” new developments.
Speaking in parliament today (18 July) he said the group will work to restore a pipeline of English projects that was lost due to the implementation of strict planning rules against the technology in 2015.
It follows the new Labour administration’s reversal of these restrictions last week that will allow onshore wind to be treated equally with other types of energy infrastructure in the planning system.
The government aims to double UK-wide onshore wind capacity by 2030, up from around 15GW of installed capacity today.
Miliband said: “Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of power we have. Under the onshore wind ban, the pipeline of projects in England shrank by 90%.
“Over a year ago, the last government’s net zero tsar Chris Skidmore made a recommendation of an onshore wind taskforce to drive forward projects. The last government ignored it, we will implement it.
“The taskforce will work with developers to rebuild the pipeline of projects.”
Skidmore’s recommendation in last year’s Mission Zero review was for government, regulators and industry to set up a taskforce and deployment roadmaps with “clear milestones for onshore wind to reach required deployment levels” for a net zero grid.
The aim then had been to decarbonise the grid by 2035, but Labour is now aiming to achieve that five years earlier by the decade-end.
The new taskforce will be chaired by Miliband and EDF Renewables chief executive Matthieu Hue.
Hue said: “Onshore wind is already well established in many parts of the UK and is one of the most cost effective forms of new electricity generation that can be developed at pace and at scale.
“However, if we are to achieve our net zero ambitions, we need to accelerate its deployment and tackle some of the challenges facing our industry, such as grid and supply chain pressures.”
The taskforce will concentrate on fostering closer industry-government ties to “create practical solutions” to these barriers facing the sector, he added.
RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail, who will be a member of the advisory group, said: “The announcement of the taskforce demonstrates strong backing for onshore wind from Westminster, which will support the continuing deployment of projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as we work hard to kickstart the pipeline in England.
“Onshore wind already generates over 20% of the UK’s electricity a year, so it has a key role in bringing secure, low-cost power to the whole country and specifically tailored economic benefits to local communities hosting new projects.”
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack, who will also be involved in the group, welcomed the “collaborative effort” to support the future of onshore wind.
“In Scotland, the Onshore Wind Sector Deal has been a game changer for the industry setting out a series of key measures to support the Scottish government in reaching its net-zero targets by delivering onshore wind farms quickly, sustainably and to the benefit of local communities,” she said.
“What we have learned from delivering the sector deal can play a crucial role for the taskforce by helping to identify current barriers to deployment across the UK and offering solutions on how to improve the planning system and develop opportunities for the supply chain.
“Strong collaboration between our industry and government is vital if we are to deliver on our clean energy ambitions and through the sector deal in Scotland we are already feeling the benefits of this.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the taskforce is effectively implemented and we look forward to a new era of the UK and Scottish governments working together to deliver our shared onshore wind ambitions.”