Only ‘0.02%’ of UK land needed for onshore wind to meet demand

Just 0.02% of the UK’s total land mass would need to be sacrificed in order for the country to triple its existing onshore wind generation capacity, according to a new analysis.

The research, debunking the latest claims by the technology’s critics, comes as the government apparently agreed to lift the moratorium on onshore wind.

Two dozen backbench Conservative MPs and lords signed a letter to the Daily Telegraph on Monday (6 December), claiming that relaxing planning controls on onshore wind in England would put the UK’s food security at risk.

They write that the change of policy would ‘undoubtedly result in high grade farmland being permanently affected at a time when we are acutely aware of the importance of food security’.

The letter has been submitted in the wake of an amendment to the government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is designed to ease planning controls on onshore wind introduced by ex-prime minister David Cameron’s Conservative government. Reports on Tuesday evening indicated the government had agreed to support the amendment.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has calculated that trebling current deployment of onshore from 15GW to 45GW would require around 5,000 sq km, equating to 2.1% of the UK’s land.

However 99% of this area would be free for farming and wildlife in between the turbines themselves, meaning a total of just 50 sq km would be occupied by the turbines.

This area, which equates to 0.02% of the UK’s land area, is less than one fifth of the area used by landfill sites.

According to a press report earlier this year, the government was considering setting a target of rolling out an additional 30GW of onshore wind.

This increase in generation capacity would enable onshore wind to generate more than the total electricity currently used by all UK homes, according to the ECIU.

Matt Williams, land analyst at the ECIU, said: “The real risk to the UK’s food security is climate change and the record price of gas. Farmers and families have been feeling these effects through food bills at the checkout and through record farm bills for energy and gas-based fertilisers. This year’s drought left many crops withering in the fields.

“Onshore wind is cheap, popular with the public, and requires very little land. In fact, this is such a tiny fraction of the UK’s land, that it will have no real impact on other land uses such as farming. It can also support food production by providing secure revenue streams to help keep struggling farmers afloat.”