Record number of clean energy projects given green light
Record number of clean energy projects given green light
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Published on
14 January 2026
More than 45 gigawatts of clean energy projects were approved in 2025
That figure is 96% higher than 2024
However, there are still bottlenecks in the development pipeline
The number of planning approvals for solar, battery and wind projects in Britain doubled in 2025 as more than 45 gigawatts (GW) got the green light, according to industry experts Cornwall Insight.
This figure is 96% higher than the 23GW that was approved in 2024 and is enough to power 12.9 million homes. The biggest growth was in battery storage, which climbed from 14.9GW in approved projects in 2024 to 28.6GW in 2025.
Cornwall Insight said the numbers reflect a longer-term shift as renewable energy accounts for even more of the UK’s power. The company put the large rise in approvals to clean energy technology reaching a “greater level of maturity”, making it easier to roll out to more people and for developers to launch larger-scale projects.
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The boom in clean energy projects has also been helped by reforms to the connection process, which is now decided based on development status in a bid by the government to get more projects connected quicker. It may also have been influenced by local elections, with some developers wanting to get approval before any changes are made to local planning laws.
Approval for clean energy projects have jumped by 400% in the past five years, and recent efforts to reform the National Energy System Operator (NESO) rules should help clear planning bottlenecks. Despite that, some projects are still facing delays.
Robin Clarke, senior analyst, Cornwall Insight said that while the UK clean energy pipeline “has never looked stronger”, too much is “still stuck in queues or waiting on grid upgrades”.
He added: “Grid bottlenecks remain one of the biggest risks to turning today’s approvals into tomorrow’s power.
“We need faster decisions, more investment in the grid, and real collaboration between Government, regulators, and industry. Without that, these record numbers risk becoming just another statistic.”
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Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
Tamara BirchNewsletters and sponsored content editor
Tamara is a journalist with more than six years experience writing about environmental topics. This includes advising small businesses on cost-effective ways tom become more sustainable, from installing to solar panels and heat pumps and reducing waste. She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs. Now, she’s using this experience to advise homeowners on the benefits of installing low-carbon technologies. She is also qualified in offering innovative initiatives to improve sustainability practices in businesses, from advertising to marketing and publishing.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
