The government has launched a major onshore wind plan in a bid to reverse sector stagnation, kickstart a revolution, and ensure that communities are able to benefit every step of the way.
Through the Onshore Wind Strategy, key actions include unlocking up to 10GW of onshore wind by tackling issues with how onshore wind turbines and aerospace civil and defence infrastructure can co-exist; repowering old turbines across the country; equipping planners and developers with the tools that they need; and exploring plans to expand the Clean Industry Bonus for onshore wind, encouraging developers to in homegrown supply chains.
It also highlighted how communities will benefit as well, with an update to voluntary community benefits guidance published, providing communities with £5,000 per megawatt every year for community initiatives including new football pitches or libraries, or bill discount schemes.
This would see a community hosting an onshore wind project receiving £150,000 every year for a 30MW windfarm, for example, equating to £3.75 million over a 25-year lifetime. The guidance further suggests index linking annual value to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring that communities receive a sum that is proportionate for future inflation.
If inflation was to rise at a flat rate of 2% every year, then the annual value could grow to £250,000 after 25 years, meaning the total value of a community benefit package could reach £4.9 million – indicating just how much potential there is for communities to benefit from hosting new onshore wind projects.
The package of publications also includes a Community Benefits Resource Kit, laying out case studies, community action plans, guidelines for applicants and community benefits agreements, helping developers plot the best path forwards.
