Planning approvals for renewable energy and storage projects in Great Britain have nearly doubled in the last year, reaching an unprecedented 45GW of capacity in 2025. This record-breaking surge represents a 96% increase compared to the 23GW approved in 2024 and provides enough potential power to supply approximately 12.9 million homes.
According to analysis by Cornwall Insight, the jump has been primarily fuelled by a massive expansion in battery storage and offshore wind. Battery storage approvals rose from 14.9GW to 28.6GW, while offshore wind saw an even more dramatic increase, climbing from just 1.3GW in 2024 to 9.9GW this year. Solar power and onshore wind also contributed to a broader trend that has seen total approvals for these technologies soar by over 400% since 2021.
Industry experts suggest the spike is the result of several converging factors. Many large-scale projects that had been in the planning system for years finally reached maturation, while developers also accelerated applications to secure better positions in the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) connection queue under new “first ready, first connected” reforms.
The government has credited its efforts to streamline the planning process for the momentum. As reported by The Energyst, the data confirms that recent updates to National Policy Statements have helped cut delays and provide developers with greater certainty. Energy Minister Baroness Hayman stated that the focus is on a “homegrown renewable energy sprint” to reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets and ultimately lower household bills. She emphasized that building the necessary infrastructure is “absolutely critical” to achieving a sustainable and secure energy future.
However, despite the record numbers on paper, significant obstacles remain in turning these approvals into operational power. Analysts warn that the pace of actual project delivery is lagging behind. Robin Clarke, a senior analyst at Cornwall Insight, noted that while the pipeline has never looked stronger, “approvals alone don’t generate electricity.” He pointed to grid bottlenecks as a primary risk, suggesting that much of the new capacity remains stuck in queues or waiting on essential infrastructure upgrades.
To address these hurdles, the government has introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aims to further reduce approval times for projects of national significance and limit delays caused by legal challenges. As reported by Energy Global, these reforms are intended to give developers greater certainty, though investment in grid flexibility and transmission upgrades remains an urgent priority for the industry to ensure the record capacity can eventually deliver power to the British grid.