UK renewable planning approvals double in past year

WIND, solar and battery projects approved in the UK nearly doubled over the past year, driven by faster planning decisions, bringing total consented capacity to 45 GW.

New data from environmental intelligence firm Cornwall Insight show that planning approvals for renewable energy projects have risen by 400% over the past five years.

The surge reflects a sustained push by the UK government to move renewable developments more quickly from proposal to operation.

Cornwall Insight said the increase in approvals was largely driven by regulatory changes designed to streamline project delivery, including last year’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill and recent grid-connection reforms introduced by the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

Clean power 2030

To support its power goals, the government has launched its Clean Power 2030 plan, committing £40bn (US$50.5bn) to renewable technologies.

The plan sets out targets to more than double offshore wind capacity to 43–50 GW by 2030, alongside a major expansion of battery and long-duration energy storage to 27–33 GW.

Demand for battery storage is expected to rise sharply as renewables account for a growing share of the UK energy mix.

The UK currently has more than 6.8 GW of operational battery storage capacity, with a further 1.4 GW in the project pipeline.

Grid connections

Over the past five years, the UK has built up a notoriously large backlog of renewable projects awaiting grid connections, which at its peak reached around 739 GW.

Recent NESO reforms have sought to address the backlog by removing so-called “zombie” projects and prioritising developments more likely to support the government’s goal of delivering a zero-carbon power system by 2030.

Energy regulator Ofgem also published grid reforms last month, which include stronger licensing requirements and financial penalties for project developers and network operators who fail to meet targets.

Cornwall Insight said the UK must increase investment in grid infrastructure and transmission upgrades to meet growing connection demand.

Robin Clarke, a senior analyst at Cornwall Insight, said: “The recent grid connection reforms are a significant step forward, and should help clear some of the backlog, but they won’t solve everything.

“We need faster decisions, more investment in the grid, and real collaboration between government, regulators, and industry.”