Great Britain approved a record number of renewable energy projects in 2025, signaling accelerating momentum in the country’s transition toward clean power. Planning approvals for battery storage, wind, and solar developments nearly doubled from the previous year, lifting total approved capacity to unprecedented levels. While policymakers and analysts welcome the surge, delivery risks remain tied to grid constraints and construction timelines.
Approvals Surge to New Highs
Data from Cornwall Insight show that approved capacity for new renewable projects reached 45 gigawatts in 2025, an increase of 96% compared with 2024. Battery storage led the expansion, with approvals rising to 28.6 gigawatts from 14.9 gigawatts a year earlier.
Offshore wind approvals also jumped sharply, increasing more than sevenfold to 9.9 gigawatts. Over the past five years, planning approvals across battery, wind, and solar have risen by more than 400%.
Government Push for Clean Power
The UK government has framed the approvals as a cornerstone of its energy strategy. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the surge reflects a commitment to clean, homegrown power aimed at reducing exposure to fossil fuel markets and lowering household energy bills over time.
Officials argue that scaling renewables strengthens energy security while supporting jobs and investment across the country.
Delivery Risks and Grid Constraints
Analysts caution that approvals alone do not guarantee electricity generation. Robin Clarke, a senior analyst at Cornwall Insight, noted that while the renewables pipeline has never looked stronger, many projects remain stuck in grid connection queues or await upgrades.
Long construction timelines and bottlenecks in the electricity grid have slowed the pace of projects coming online. Grid constraints are widely viewed as the biggest risk to turning approved capacity into operational power.
Reforms Aim to Clear the Backlog
Recent reforms are intended to speed progress. The grid connection system is shifting away from a first come, first served model toward a first ready, first needed, first connected approach. Earlier this month, the system operator removed hundreds of stalled projects to free capacity for schemes deemed shovel ready.
More than half of the projects previously in the queue are expected to be cleared to make room for around £40 billion worth of developments aligned with the government’s goal of a near zero carbon power system by 2030.
Investment Needs Grow With Expansion
The rapid rise in renewable approvals also underscores the need for large scale grid investment. Britain’s electricity network was not designed for high volumes of intermittent generation and storage, increasing the urgency for transmission upgrades, grid flexibility, and smart technologies.
Industry observers say faster decision making and closer coordination between government, regulators, and developers will be essential to ensure the record approvals translate into reliable power.
Conclusion
The record breaking wave of renewable energy approvals in 2025 marks a significant milestone for Great Britain’s clean energy ambitions. Turning this momentum into delivered electricity will depend on resolving grid constraints, accelerating construction, and sustaining investment. Without those steps, the gains risk remaining on paper rather than powering homes and businesses.
