The future growth of the UK onshore wind industry is at risk without a change in government policy, trade body RenewableUK has warned.
R-UK said current policy blocking onshore wind from competing for Contracts for Difference means the industry faces a steep drop off in new investment and capacity coming online after a record year in 2017.
Last year, 2611MW of new onshore wind became operational in the country, R-UK said in a new report.
Most of the capacity (1673MW) was installed in Scotland, with 356MW in Wales and 247MW in Northern Ireland, it said.
Net investment value in 2017 was £5.3bn, of which 87% was in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, R-UK said.
“Onshore wind is the lowest cost option for new power in the UK, with a recent economic analysis from BVG Associates showing that contracts for new onshore wind would provide a payback to consumers of over £1.6bn,” the trade body added.
R-UK executive director Emma Pinchbeck said: “By excluding onshore wind from the market, the government is putting at risk billions of pounds of new investment annually across the UK and making it more expensive to meet its own climate change targets”.
The study includes case studies of onshore wind farms developed by ScottishPower Renewables and SSE.
ScottishPower Renewables chief executive Lindsay McQuade said: “Onshore wind has seen incredible growth in recent years. It is vital that we continue to work with government to ensure that onshore wind has a future.”
SSE director of generation development Paul Cooley said: “The onshore wind industry has created jobs, supported an indigenous supply chain, stimulated investment in remote areas, reduced carbon emissions and cut costs.
“A supportive policy framework that addresses market and planning challenges is vital to enable onshore wind to continue delivering local and national benefits.”
Image: R-UK
UK onshore growth ‘at risk’
By EBS