I am passionate about tackling climate change. Accordingly, I am in favour of facilitating onshore wind where there is local consent. I am encouraged too that onshore wind is a key part of the Government’s strategy for low-cost decarbonisation of the energy sector.
Some context first of all, if I may: I have long said (and long before I entered politics) that climate change is one of the three most serious challenges that our world faces. In my view it should be considered in the same bracket as terrorism and antibiotic resistance, such is its potential threat to the health and wellbeing of our communities here in the UK and beyond.
Sadly, this is not some future, theoretical possibility - it is a present, practical reality. The five warmest years in recorded history have been since 2010, glaciers are retreating around the world, and the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica is melting ten times faster than expected. We can choose to dismiss these events as a coincidence – but that would mean ignoring the fact that they are taking place alongside soaring levels of carbon dioxide. Or we can listen to the overwhelming majority of climate science. The conclusions of that majority are clear: evidence of humankind’s influence on the climate is compelling and established beyond all reasonable doubt.
That's why, as Cheltenham's MP I presented a Bill to Parliament, the first MP ever to do so, to enshrine in law a commitment for the UK to be carbon-neutral by 2050. You can watch me introducing the Bill (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGiuJoPOouk) here - do have a quick look, even if just for thirty seconds. We have already reduced our emissions by around 45% on 1990 levels (the strongest emissions reduction record of any country in the G7).
Onshore wind is one of the most cost-effective electricity generating technologies and already accounts for approximately a quarter of installed renewable capacity in the UK. You may be interested to know that just last weekend (25 March 2023) at 11:30am over 80% of our energy was being produced by renewables. But we need to go further. Committing to net-zero carbon emissions demonstrates global leadership and sets an example to the rest of the world. Even though we are responsible for just 1% of global emissions (China is closer to 29%) we need to do the right thing.
The Government is clear that achieving net-zero by 2050 will require increased deployment across a range of technologies, including onshore wind. The recent Energy White Paper stated that there will need to be sustained growth in the capacity of onshore wind over the next decade alongside solar and offshore wind.
As such, in March 2020 the Government announced that onshore wind and other established renewable technologies such as solar PV will be able to compete in the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round. The round is now open and will aim to deliver up to double the renewable capacity of the last successful round in 2019 with £285 million a year.
Furthermore, the Hydrogen Strategy made clear that Scotland has a key role to play in the development of a UK hydrogen economy, with the potential to produce industrial-scale quantities of hydrogen from offshore and onshore wind resources, wave and tidal power, as well as with Carbon Capture Usage and Storage. The Energy Security Strategy also indicates that there will be 12,000 jobs in the UK hydrogen industry by 2030 – 3,000 more than previously expected.
On the issue of the National Planning Policy Framework, I welcome the Government's plans to introduce changes to the planning system in England whereby planning permission for onshore wind would depend upon a project commanding local support and being able to satisfactorily address any impacts identified by the local community.
The Government consulted on these changes, and I understand that responses received to the consultation are being analysed. I look forward to reading the Government's response in due course.
Separately, the Government has said that it will seek views on developing local partnerships for supportive communities to enable those who would like to host new onshore wind to benefit, for example through lower energy bills.