The UK Government has unveiled its Onshore Wind Strategy, outlining more than 40 concerted actions designed to nearly double the nation's onshore wind capacity to 29GW by 2030.

This ambitious plan has garnered support from industry leaders, including Scottish Renewables, who have actively contributed to the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce established by the UK Government last summer to address barriers and identify growth opportunities within the sector.

Scotland's commitment to wind energy has already been solidified through the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal, signed between Scottish Renewables and the Scottish Government in 2023. This deal specifically targets 20GW of operational onshore wind capacity in Scotland by 2030. Recent analysis conducted by Scottish Renewables underscores the sector's significant economic contribution, revealing that onshore wind currently supports over 16,800 jobs and generates an economic output of £6.4 billion within Scotland.

-- Advertisement --

Claire Mack OBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, commented on the new strategy: "Scotland has a proud history in onshore wind and the bold strategy published today reaffirms how central the Scottish onshore wind sector will be to the UK’s clean power journey."

Emphasising the dual benefits of onshore wind, she added: "Onshore wind is a cost-effective source of clean energy that can be deployed at pace, supporting skilled jobs and tangible community benefit. Making the most of our onshore wind resource will also strengthen our energy security in the years ahead."

Ms. Mack highlighted the collaborative efforts: "Scottish Renewables secured the landmark Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal in 2023 and the clear actions published today will build on this effort by tackling the issues that demand close working across the UK. Renewed commitments on planning efficiency, grid connections, radar and aviation in the strategy are all strong signals of intent by the UK and Scottish governments to boost onshore wind deployment."

Looking forward, she affirmed Scottish Renewables' dedication: "We will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver the strategy and determine the pathway beyond 2030 for the Scottish onshore wind sector."