Decisive Political Shift: Fast-tracking Large-Scale
Renewable Projects
The new government has signalled a decisive change in approach by approving stalled large-scale
renewable projects despite opposition, while simultaneously preparing the broader structural
reforms proposed under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. This sequencing highlights a clear
priority—advance critical capacity additions now, while establishing a faster and more resilient
approvals framework for the future.
Immediate Approvals of Utility Scale Solar Projects Signal New
Government’s Intent
Within just two weeks of taking office in July 2024, DCOs were granted for three NSIPs, adding more than 1.3GW of solar capacity.
This momentum has carried through subsequent months. In September 2024, the government approved the UK’s largest solar project to date at 600MW, and by January 2025, two more projects in England—nearly 1GW combined, with integrated storage—secured consent.
These early actions illustrate a clear shift in approach, not only through legislative changes, but through the new administration’s political prioritisation of clean energy and more decisive leadership.
Leveraging Agricultural Land in Rural Areas to Develop Utility-scale Solar Projects
The rapid acceleration of solar buildout is closely tied to the use of rural land, where availability and financial incentives for landowners create strong pull factors.
For instance, a proposed cluster of 10 solar farms across the East of England and Northamptonshire—spanning 24,000 acres and totalling 4.3GW—highlights the scale of ambition. For farmers, the economics are compelling: the National Farmers’ Union (“NFU”) estimates solar leasing yields around £1,000 per acre annually, roughly ten times more than cereal farming. Yet, the growing appetite for solar development on high-quality farmland has triggered concerns around food security and environmental impact.
To address this, the government is developing a new land use framework to guide solar projects towards suitable areas, protecting prime agricultural zones while still enabling large-scale deployment. Agrivoltaics is also gaining traction as a “dual-use” solution—allowing grazing and crop cultivation alongside energy generation.
Such approaches demonstrate that solar need not displace farming; rather, it can enhance land productivity, biodiversity, and farm incomes while supporting the clean energy transition.
Major Utility Scale Solar Projects
Offshore Wind Greenlight Signals
Clean Power Push
The Scottish Government has granted approval for the 4.1GW Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, one of the largest of its kind globally, with up to 307 turbines planned in the North Sea.
The decision went ahead despite strong objections from conservation groups over potential impacts on seabird populations, reflecting the government’s stance that accelerating offshore wind deployment is critical to meeting the UK’s 2030 clean power goals.
Authorities justified the move as essential for boosting national energy security, reducing consumer costs, and ensuring progress towards net zero, with approval contingent on the delivery of a seabird compensation plan.
