Government announces lift of onshore wind ban after five years

On 2 March 2020, the UK government made a major U-turn on its renewable electricity policy, lifting the onshore wind ban which has been in place since 2015. This is a landmark decision which will set the UK energy sector on an increasingly positive trajectory towards reaching our long-term net-zero target.

The energy sector has campaigned extensively over the last five years for the onshore wind ban to be lifted and this decision heralds a huge step in the right direction, signalling intent from the government that this is a year of climate action and that the UK is serious about delivering a zero carbon energy sector.

The move is significant and is something the CBI has lobbied for over the last few years, on behalf of members. Working with businesses within the renewables sector, we have targeted government, the civil service, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and research in