Morning, Monday, 22nd February 2027
Online
This conference will consider next steps for onshore wind in England.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to examine priorities for planning, grid connections, local authority capacity and environmental considerations following recent planning and grid reforms, and implementation of the Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy, with attention moving towards practical arrangements needed to support deployment. Delegates will discuss implications of connection eligibility requirements under CfD Allocation Round 8, the interaction between transmission constraints and project sequencing, and wider system-level factors shaping deployment in England.
The planned agenda will consider the progression of new planning applications and repowering activity, updates to local plans and development management processes following changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, and key issues relating to environmental assessment requirements, aviation constraints and biodiversity considerations.
Sessions will assess priorities for investment, supply chain capability and workforce requirements, including opportunities relating to turbine components, electrical equipment and refurbishment activity, operation, maintenance and life extension, alongside considerations for project viability, delivery capacity, long-term sustainability, and the respective roles of developers, network operators and other delivery partners. Attendees will consider options for strengthening supply chain resilience, addressing concerns around skills shortages across engineering, planning and construction, and coordinated deployment across different parts of England.
Further sessions will consider what the outcomes of CfD AR8 and implementation of grid connections reform mean for deployment and for progress towards Clean Power 2030 objectives, and the role of onshore wind in whole system costs. Discussion is also expected on community benefit and shared ownership, including options for greater consistency in community benefit arrangements, the contribution of community energy models, and how local engagement can support wider participation as deployment scales up.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- planning & consenting:
- planning reform - revisions to the NPPF - local plan updates - development management processes
- repowering pathways - the NSIP route for qualifying projects - consultation outcome on permitted development rights for small-scale non-domestic turbines
- grid, connections & system integration:
- AR8 connection eligibility requirements - NESO Gate 2 to Whole Queue reform - phased issuing of revised offers through to March 2027
- transmission constraints - project sequencing - distribution network capacity - regional capacity allocation and treatment of attrition
- consenting constraints & spatial planning:
- local authority capacity - environmental assessment - aviation constraints - biodiversity and cumulative impacts - radar mitigation, safeguarding costs and application of updated CAP 764 guidance
- the developing role of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan in coordinating deployment - SSEP development, consultation and publication timetable - environmental considerations
- investment & commercial conditions:
- AR8 outcomes and strike prices - routes to market and corporate PPAs - cost of capital - investor confidence - extension of Clean Industry Bonus to onshore wind from Allocation Round 9
- supply chain capability & workforce:
- turbine components - electrical equipment - refurbishment activity - contractor capacity - supply chain resilience
- skilled labour availability - installation and practical engineering skills - transferable skills and cross-sector mobility
- pipeline monitoring & delivery coordination:
- coordination between developers, investors, network operators and delivery partners
- identifying project-specific blockers - monitoring planning, connection, financing and construction readiness across the pipeline
- community benefit & local engagement:
- community benefit arrangements - updated community benefits guidance for England - shared ownership - community energy models - consistency in local engagement
- Clean Power 2030 & wider system alignment:
- progress towards the Great Britain-wide 27-29 GW onshore wind capacity range for 2030, and England's contribution to this target - role of onshore wind in whole system costs
- implementation of Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy and the role of the Onshore Wind Council in overseeing delivery
