EMR Group, one of the world’s leading metal recyclers, has called on the UK Government to incentivise the repowering of aging wind farms.
As the UK Government sets its sights on doubling the onshore wind capacity to 30GW by 2030, it’ll be key to ensure that it’s getting the most out of its prime sites. This is especially true, as the 30GW target requires a massive scale-up from the current 15GW, entailing the manufacturing, construction, and grid connection of approximately 4,000 turbines within the next six years.
While securing new onshore wind projects involves navigating the planning permission process, which remains challenging despite recent reforms aimed at simplifying approvals, EMR Group has suggested that the spotlight turns to repowering existing wind farms as a viable path to rapidly escalate capacity.
Many of the UK’s earliest wind farms, now over two decades old, are situated at prime wind sites yet operate under outdated technology. These sites currently host turbines averaging 0.5MW – significantly smaller than the 4-6MW units typical in new developments.
According to EMR Group, repowering these sites with modern turbines could vastly increase power output within the same or even a reduced physical footprint.
Despite the apparent benefits, financial incentives for repowering are lacking. Nearly all onshore wind capacity over 20 years old benefits from the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, which provides financial returns above the market rate for electricity. This scheme, however, dissuades operators from updating their facilities as the financial benefits of maintaining older, less efficient turbines continue to outweigh the potential gains from upgrading.
The RO scheme is set to conclude in April 2027 for early adopters, after which many are likely to consider repowering. To avoid a bottleneck in decommissioning and grid connection updates, which could delay the transition to more efficient technology, EMR Group is urging the Government to revise the RO scheme. Proposed changes include extending the scheme’s benefits to repowered sites, albeit at a reduced rate, to cover potential financial shortfalls.