How much electricity is currently generated by onshore wind turbines, and how much more is planned?
Onshore wind makes the greatest contribution to electricity generated by renewable energy technologies.
In 2010, it supplied 18,600 GWh of electricity, and accounted for more almost 30% of the total electricity obtained from renewable sources in that year.. Overall, onshore wind represents a relatively small, but not negligible, percentage of the total electricity generated in the UK – about 5.5% in 2014.
The government predicts that the existing onshore wind turbines, together with those that are under construction and those that are waiting approval, will be sufficient to meet the UK’s renewable targets for 2020.
As of February 2016, almost 9 GW of onshore wind capacity was in operation, while over 6 GW was in the pipeline – either under construction or where planning consent has been given. Applications have also been submitted for almost 6 GW of additional capacity Not all potential developments are approved however. The consent rates used to vary from 60% in Scotland to 80% in Northern Ireland and 54% in England, although new planning regulations introduced in 2015 may further reduce the consent rate [link to FAQ on planning].
DECC’s interactive map| shows sites awaiting construction, current applications and refused developments.
