UK Plans 29 GW of Onshore Wind, Saving €3.45 Billion Annually

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, RenewableUK, the trade association for the UK wind energy industry, released a new analysis report indicating that by 2030, building new onshore wind farms to meet the government's target of 29 gigawatts (GW) could save UK taxpayers €3.45 billion (£3 billion) annually compared to generating the same amount of electricity from new gas-fired power stations.

Another study conducted by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), an independent climate and energy think tank, found that if the UK relied more on higher-cost natural gas rather than wind power, wholesale electricity prices in the UK would rise by 31% by 2025. Onshore wind development is also advancing in other parts of the world, such as Japan's onshore wind project auctions, where the bid price ceiling for 700 MW projects is set at ¥14 per kilowatt-hour.

According to RenewableUK, achieving the 29 GW target would also bring nearly €575 million (approximately £500 million) in annual benefits to local communities. This funding would be split into two parts: €400 million (£348 million) would be paid by operators in business and property taxes, and €167 million (£145 million) would be channeled directly into long-term community benefit funds. These funds are used to support priorities chosen by local residents, such as community facilities, environmental projects, skills training, and measures to address fuel poverty and rural isolation. Currently, the UK onshore wind industry employs 15,000 people, and RenewableUK expects this number to rise to 17,500 by 2030.

According to the association, approximately 70% of the lifecycle expenditure on onshore renewable energy projects in the UK currently occurs within the UK, indicating a geographically widespread domestic supply chain. Research commissioned by RenewableUK estimates that expanding this supply chain could deliver up to €64.4 billion (£56 billion) in added value to the UK economy by 2050.