TO BE PUBLISHED July 2025
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This conference focuses on the way forward for growth in the UK domestic onshore wind sector, with the Government’s aim to double production of onshore wind energy by 2030.
It will bring together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss priorities and opportunities for development of the sector against the backdrop of wide-ranging policy, regulatory and infrastructure reform, including measures set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, aimed at building capacity and accelerating deployment.
Policy and planning
Areas for discussion include implications of the Government lifting the de facto ban on new onshore wind projects in England and reintroducing onshore wind projects above 100MW back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. It also takes place amidst aims to streamline the planning process for energy infrastructure, including for onshore wind projects through measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as well as aims to further the contribution of onshore wind in moving towards the Government’s target of achieving clean power by 2030.
Consent and decision-making
Following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework in February - which removes the requirement for community support for onshore wind and specific allocations in local plans - delegates will consider key issues for planning and consent for onshore wind projects at both a local and national level.
We expect discussion on concerns raised by stakeholders that bringing onshore wind under the NSIP regime might overly centralise decision-making power, and the impact that setting the threshold at 100MW might have on ensuring sufficient consultation and decision-making at a local level.
Community and environmental considerations
Delegates will assess approaches to ensure that local expertise is not lost, and to allow for meaningful community engagement in the development of schemes. Further sessions will consider how to address environmental concerns, including mitigating the impact on local ecosystems and landscapes.
Local projects and benefit
The agenda also explores the potential for community partnerships and projects to realise local benefits from wind farms. Delegates will assess next steps for the Government’s Local Power Plan as part of Great British Energy and the future of co-owned and community-owned wind farms.
Grid modernisation
We also expect discussion on priorities for improving grid connectivity to ensure that it is able to keep up with increased onshore production, in light of the newly established publicly-owned National Energy System Operator. Areas for discussion include recent Ofgem reforms aimed at accelerating grid connections by removing stalled zombie projects from the queue and prioritising those ready to deliver clean power, alongside how to address regional capacity constraints and challenges of integrating a growing number of onshore wind projects into the existing grid infrastructure.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- policy and regulation:
- implementing the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, and its impact on onshore wind expansion
- the impact of reintroducing onshore wind into the NSIPs regime and streamlining project approvals
- recent updates to the NPPF and fast-tracking mechanisms for onshore wind projects - implications of proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill for planning processes and investment certainty
- planning and local engagement:
- balancing national policy objectives with local decision-making in project approvals
- managing stakeholder concerns about the 100MW NSIP threshold and local authority involvement - enhancing community engagement and consultation processes
- investment and market growth:
- encouraging public and private sector investment in onshore wind projects - the role of Great British Energy in supporting co-investment and industry growth
- grid infrastructure and energy system integration:
- expanding grid capacity to accommodate increased onshore wind generation - strategies for overcoming grid bottlenecks and accelerating connection approvals
- environmental and land use considerations:
- balancing onshore wind expansion with priorities for biodiversity and conservation - addressing concerns around visual impact, noise, and land use conflicts
- technology and innovation:
- advances in turbine efficiency, storage solutions, and digital monitoring - innovation in grid flexibility solutions to accommodate fluctuating wind power - R&D opportunities for next-gen wind tech
- workforce and skills development:
- addressing skills shortages in wind energy manufacturing, installation, and maintenance - upskilling and training initiatives to support a growing workforce in renewable energy
- career transition pathways for workers from fossil fuel industries into wind energy roles
- long-term strategy and global positioning:
- positioning the UK as a leader in onshore wind and clean energy innovation - aligning UK onshore wind expansion with net zero commitments and global sustainability goals
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DESNZ; MHCLG; DBT; HSE; NISTA; DEEC, ROI; AND the Welsh Government.
