The UK Government has today published a new onshore wind strategy for England but with an estimate of direct and indirect jobs in the whole of the UK totalling 45,000 by 2030.
A Taskforce was set up last year to produce a strategy for developing the onshore wind industry in the UK and resolve any obstacles in its path. The Onshore Wind Taskforce has now been disbanded after producing its report.
While the plan is focused south of the border, it has an effect in Scotland “where 90% of the current onshore wind pipeline is located”. The report says that it “recognises the importance of addressing barriers to onshore wind development across the UK. Devolved matters have been respected while some subject matters which are not devolved under a devolution settlement have been considered by the Taskforce. Therefore, some of the actions in this report will have implications for the pipeline of onshore wind projects in the Devolved Administrations. As such, officials from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have been involved in the Taskforce process”.
One of the recommendations is that the guidance currently in place in Scotland on landscape and visual impact assessments is adopted as best practice guidance elsewhere in the UK, as well as the contemporary guidance on bird collision risk which has already been adopted here.
It is admitted that supply chain constraints are less for onshore wind than for offshore, principally due to the hostile environment in the sea, but one delay in the build process highlighted in the report is caused by the requirement for a police escort for abnormal loads in Scotland “constraining the speed with which onshore wind projects can deploy”. Police Scotland have been working with the onshore wind industry to address the need for this requirement including increasing police resources.
The government says that onshore wind is one of the easiest and cheapest technologies to build and will supply British homes and businesses with “clean, secure homegrown power that ends a reliance on unstable global gas markets” – which is all part of Westminster’s mission to get bills down for good.
Onshore Wind Strategy can be read in full here.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Rolling out more onshore wind is a no-brainer – it’s one of our cheapest technologies, quick to build, supports thousands of skilled jobs and can provide clean energy directly to the communities hosting it.
“After years of decline, we’re giving industry the tools to get building again, backing industrial renewal and secure, clean, homegrown energy through our Plan for Change.”
Claire Mack OBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “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.
“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.
“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. We will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver the strategy and determine the pathway beyond 2030 for the Scottish onshore wind sector.”
More detail on the over £40 billion of private investment in clean energy announced since July 2024 is available in the ‘Clean energy industries sector plan’.
Some aspects of energy including the generation and supply of electricity, oil and gas, are devolved matters under The Scotland Act, and so fall within the remit of The Scottish Government.
At a recent meeting of The Scottish Government Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, explained the correlation between ways that the government has helped offshore wind generation and The Scottish Government’s budget. He said: “The Scottish Government has sought to secure and leverage competitive advantage for our economy through our budget and priorities for growth. On the offshore wind sector, for example, the 2024-25 outturn shows that we supported the green economy and future jobs by kick-starting our commitment of up to £500 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain in Scotland. That has leveraged in private capital investment such as Sumitomo’s £350 million cable factory investment at Nigg. We will continue to build on that to unlock growth and innovation across all sectors of our economy in 2025-26.”
Nuclear energy
There are claims from the UK Government that Scotland is becoming globally isolated on nuclear power – missing out on much needed skilled jobs and economic growth – because of The Scottish Government’s ideological stance on nuclear power.
Westminster claims nuclear energy could create thousands of new, highly-skilled jobs in Scotland, while delivering clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people. Reliable, cheap nuclear power can support critical modern infrastructure in Scotland, such as supercomputers.
Speaking ahead of a visit to Torness Nuclear Power Station in East Lothian on Thursday, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray cited new research which shows that Scotland risks becoming one of few areas in Europe without nuclear plants. The Scottish Government has been repeatedly elected on a manifesto which takes a clear stance against new nuclear development.
Mr Murray said: “In other parts of the UK, the UK Government is driving forward nuclear power, as are countries across Europe and indeed the world. But in Scotland the Scottish Government clings to its ideological objection to new nuclear sites. That means that Scotland is being left behind, missing out on thousands of skilled jobs and economic growth, as well as clean affordable energy. I urge the Scottish Government to put Scotland’s interests first.”
Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said: “Scotland is being left behind. While countries like Sweden and Finland embrace clean, reliable nuclear energy – the Scottish Government clings to its outdated ban on new nuclear. If nuclear industry jobs and investment are banned from coming to Scotland, they will go to these places instead.
“Torness has powered homes and supported jobs for decades, but a lack of certainty over its future puts this in jeopardy. Renewables are vital, but wind and solar can’t do it all. Scotland needs nuclear to provide jobs and investment, deliver secure domestic energy, and cut emissions. Most Scots and even most SNP voters back it. It’s time for ministers in Edinburgh to stop saying no and start saying yes to new nuclear.”
The UK Government says that since Torness started operating in 1988, it has contributed more than £16.1 billion to the UK economy and supported more than 2,600 jobs a year. Together Hunterston B and Torness have contributed more than £29.4 billion to the UK economy.
The costs of going nuclear
Last month the Chancellor approved spending of £14.2 billion on Sizewell C in Suffolk, the first British-owned nuclear power station to be announced in 30 years. The government will be the majority shareholder along with energy company EDF.
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, said then: “We will not accept the status quo of failing to invest in the future and energy insecurity for our country.
“We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis.
“This is the Government’s clean energy mission in action – investing in lower bills and good jobs for energy security.”
The new power station will be funded through the Regulated Asset Base model which “protects consumers through regulation, strict cost controls and transparent oversight”.This will reduce the risk of cost overruns which have blighted the development at Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset.
One of the latest estimates of cost of Hinkley Point C is around £35 billion, and completion, which was originally to take place in 2017, is forecast for 2031. That project involves EDF as a majority owner. EDF is a company wholly owned by the French government.
The Scottish Government is clear in its opposition to new nuclear power stations being constructed in this country. They do not oppose prolonging the life of Torness as long as that can be done within safety and environment criteria. A government statement says: “We oppose the building of new nuclear stations using current technologies. We believe that nuclear power represents poor value for consumers. This is clear from the contract awarded by the UK Government to Hinkley Point C nuclear station in Somerset, which will result in energy consumers subsidising its operation until 2060.”
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