Current planning laws restrict the installation of small-scale wind turbines, meaning that communities, rural business and farmers are unable to easily access the benefits of this technology. 

Small-scale wind can play a vital role in community energy projects, farms and small businesses to help reduce their energy costs. Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation, with a typical annual output profile that complements solar power, by generating energy at night and through the cold, dark winter months. 

We are asking that for community energy projects, farms and small businesses, that the height of small-scale wind turbines be lifted from 11.1m to 30m, with the blade length less than 8m long. This would support reducing electricity bills for community energy projects, industrial applications, and farmers, who are not protected by the price cap as domestic consumers are.   

The modest increase in height for small-scale wind would mean turbines would be only a little taller than a mature oak tree, which is around 25m in height. The 11.1m restriction would still apply for domestic homes and the increase would only be for community energy projects, farms and small businesses.   

In its Onshore Wind Plan, the Government recently committed to consulting on changes to planning laws for wind turbines. We are hopeful this will deliver an increase in height needed by rural communities and farmers and make it easier to install the technology.  

Please write to your MP to support a modest increase in height for small-scale wind for these limited groups and end the restrictions placed on this vital source of renewable energy and support farmers, community energy projects and small-businesses that could really benefit from cheap renewables and who are not protected by the price cap.  

Write to your MP and support the vital role small-scale wind can offer to the UK and rural economy and communities.