Onshore wind

Onshore wind turbines use wind energy to generate electricity with large blades which rotate and drive the generator.

Onshore wind is an important part of the energy mix which is needed to provide energy security and lower energy bills.

Onshore wind provides a low carbon source of inexhaustible green renewable energy which will help us reach our net zero targets. In 2020 onshore wind accounted for 11% of total electricity generation in the UK.*

Onshore wind turbines are constantly evolving which means bigger voltages and larger diameter rotors so although future projects may have bigger turbines it usually means there will be less of them too.

*https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables

operational onshore wind farms

Over £1.8million

awarded to local communities in Scotland in 2023 through Community Benefit Funds in 2024

Where you’ll find our onshore wind farms

EDF power solutions UK and Ireland has 35 operational onshore wind farms.

The UK and Ireland are amongst the windiest countries in the world so it makes sense to take advantage of this natural asset by having onshore wind farms.

England

Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Why onshore wind

The UK and Ireland are amongst the windiest countries in the world so it makes sense to take advantage of this natural asset by having onshore wind farms.

Onshore wind is already a key part of decarbonising and the low-cost power it can provide is essential to keep electricity bills down and support us in reaching net zero.

It also provides thousands of jobs and community benefits so from work for local construction firms to community benefit funds and skilled long-term jobs in maintenance and engineering, onshore wind can provide new opportunities for local people.

CLEAN AND LOW-CARBON ENERGY SOURCE

THE WIND IS RENEWABLE, SO IT’LL NEVER RUN OUT

WIND FARMS CAN BE BUILT AND INSTALLED MORE QUICKLY THEN OTHER TYPES OF POWER STATION

NEARBY LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM JOBS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY FUNDING

Project spotlight

West Benhar wind farm

Situated near the town of Shotts in North Lanarkshire, the seven turbine West Benhar Wind Farm provides 30.1MW of low carbon electricity every year – enough to power 18,000 homes. The turbines at West Benhar are approximately 150 metres tall, with each turbine generating 4.3MW of electricity. The local community will benefit considerably from the wind farm via the West Benhar Community Benefit Fund which is worth just over £150,000 per year.

Remote island wind

Scotland’s remote islands have some of the best wind resources in the whole of the UK. On the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, the Stornoway Wind Farm is being developed by Lewis Wind Power – a 50:50 joint venture between EDF power solutions and ESB.