UK Approves Record 16.1 GW of Renewables in Q2 2025

In the clean energy transition, the UK has established a new record by approving 16.1 GW of new renewable capacity in the second quarter of 2025 – nearly three times that seen in the same quarter of last year. This shows a 195% increase from 2024 for solar, wind and storage approvals, reaffirming the UK’s position as one of the most rapidly energized renewable energy markets in Europe.

Significant Projects at Play

A number of major projects can be credited for this considerable progress.

Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm (Ørsted) – 2.9 GW offshore of the east coast of England, with 300 MW/600 MWh storage solution, expected to come online in 2027.
Green Volt Floating Wind (Flotation Energy & Vårgrønn) – 560 MW offshore of Aberbeen, licensed in 2024 with a £2.5 billion investment, which will create 2,800 jobs.
Rampion 2 (RWE, Enbridge, GIG) – 1.2 GW offshore wind farm with a scheduled completion date of 2030.
Inch Cape Wind Farm (Red Rock Power & ESB) – 1.08 GW offshore in the North Sea for installation begin in 2025.
Earba Storage Project (Iliad Energy) – 1.8 GW / 40 GWh pumped hydro will secure Earba’s position as the largest long-duration storage facility in the UK.
Cleve Hill Solar Park (Lightsource bp and Hive Energy) – 373 MW PV with 150 MW of batteries will be operational in July 2025.

In total, UK renewable capacity that has been installed is now greater than 45 GW, with solar deployment experiencing particularly strong growth. During the course of the past year, over 690 solar projects, representing a total of 4,595 MW of capacity, were approved, an increase of 16%, while approvals of onshore wind developments fell by 33%.

Investment Momentum and Regulatory Push

Reforms are changing the speed development is occurring. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025 aims to achieve smoother approvals, while Ofgem has changed the grid connection process to prioritise “shovel-ready” projects. The government’s Clean Power 2030 plan is also advocating for centralised offshore wind planning and large scale storage development and aims to mobilise private sector investment between £20 and £40 billion each year.

Challenges with Grid and Storage

Although the (projects) approvals remain at unprecedented levels, there are still obstacles. The National Grid is still constrained by transmission capability, as evidenced by Storm Floris, which cost £810 million in compensation to generators after only six months of turbine curtailments. Without urgent grid reinforcement, curtailment payments could reach over £8 billion annually.

Cornwall Insight analysts caution that if current trends continue, the UK could be far short of its targets in 2030, with under 37 GW offshore wind, 17 GW onshore wind, and 29 GW solar, all well below the ambitions set out in official targets.

Industry Perspectives

While industry leaders are optimistic they continue to exercise caution..

William Kendall, a Suffolk business leader, said: “We need to build a lot more solar farms and some wind turbines, and combine renewables with better agricultural interoperability and biodiversity.”
Matthew Boulton, Director of Solar & Storage at EDF Renewables UK, noted: “We are at a tipping point for the solar industry, and there requires a roadmap for solar development in England to unlock the capacity for solar.”

Outlook

Approvals are at unprecedented levels, showing the UK’s continued commitment to a clean energy future. Without accelerated grid modernisation, improved storage and better alignment with communities, it will continue to be both difficult and challenging to meet net-zero by 2035.

Source: Strategic Energy Europe