Onshore wind sector deal

Legislative and regulatory

Through detailed pipeline analysis we will develop evidence to support a more strategic approach to delivering the investment in our electricity network and to inform a coordinated approach to the transportation of wind turbine components across Scotland’s road network. We will support improvements to the network connections process helping to ensure that onshore wind capacity can connect and operate effectively.

Onshore wind development is enabled by several legislative and regulatory frameworks including the design of electricity markets, regulation of networks and the legislation governing the transportation of abnormal loads by road. While these frameworks have significant implications for the development, construction and operation of onshore wind farms in Scotland, they are reserved matters on which we will continue to work with the UK Government. Here we focus on what can be achieved within the Scottish legislative framework.

Collaborative action to support onshore wind

• Following delivery of the onshore wind pipeline analysis (see Sector actions below), the Sector and Government, working with Police Scotland and relevant stakeholders, will, by Q2 2024, agree plans to ensure timely and properly-resourced processes for wind turbine component transportation capable of supporting the growing volume of towers and blades that will need to be transported across Scotland’s road network.

Sector action to support onshore wind

• Through existing working groups, we will proactively engage with National Grid ESO, Scottish Power Energy Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to support short and long-term improvements to the connection process, in particular supporting actions to improve the management of the connection queue. From 2024, we will proactively help manage the connection queue, ensuring that stalled projects are removed or amended where appropriate.
• By the end of 2023 we will provide clear information on the expected pipeline of new wind farms, extensions to existing wind farms, life extensions and re-powering projects expected between 2024 and 2030. This spatial vision for the delivery of the 2030 ambition will build on the pipeline analysis committed to under the Planning section of the sector deal and will provide an evidence base to support National Grid ESO and Scotland’s network companies to deliver strategic network planning.
• By Q1 2024, we will publish an analysis quantifying the likely scale of abnormal load movements throughout Scotland to deliver the 2030 ambition and make the results available to Government, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and others involved in escorting loads. This analysis will provide forecasts of abnormal load movements over time, including the likely number of turbine components that will need to be transported during each year to 2030 and the identification of the likely strategic access routes that will be used by multiple developers.

Government action to support onshore wind

• By the end of Q3 2024, in collaboration with the sector, we will develop good practice guidance, which will include a benchmarking exercise, depending on the availability of relevant data, for contractual negotiations in overrun and oversail situations.
• By the end of 2024 we will provide a forward vision for onshore wind which will look beyond 2030 and lay out the role that the sector is likely to play in the longer-term decarbonisation of Scotland’s energy system. We will engage with Scotland’s network companies, along with National Grid ESO, the Future System Operator, Ofgem and UK Government to ensure that the vision is integrated into plans for the development of the wider GB energy system.
• We will continue to engage with the UK Government and other relevant decision makers and stakeholders to advocate for market reform, a Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism and network charging that supports the delivery of Scotland’s onshore wind ambition as part of a whole system approach to delivering net zero.