Is my land a good fit for renewable energy?

We’ve had over 42,000 people tell us they want renewables in their communities. Support from local people is essential to getting projects off the ground, especially during the planning stage. After all, we want to build renewable energy where it’s genuinely wanted.

Larger land holdings tend to work best - particularly for solar, where more space means more panels. Wind turbines, on the other hand, have a smaller footprint, so smaller sites can still work well. That said, the smaller the plot, the more perfectly suited it needs to be.

Weather can have a huge impact on how much meaningful clean, green energy a site an generate. For wind sites, we’re looking for average wind speeds of around 7 m/s (a moderate breeze). For solar, a good UK site typically receives 900–1,100 kWh/m² per year of sunlight.

Arable pasture or brownfield land tends to be ideal. We’re big believers in dual land use - where renewables and farming work hand in hand. Think sheep grazing right up to the base of a turbine or beneath solar panels - really getting the most out of your land.

For renewables to make an impact, they need a way to share their power. That’s why grid availability is key - it’s how the clean electricity generated on your site reaches homes and businesses. Without a grid connection or private wire, that energy has nowhere to go.

Sites should be a good distance from homes (around 500 metres or more) and have easy access for construction and maintenance (being close to A roads is ideal). A nearby substation (within roughly 3 km) also makes it simpler to connect your site to the grid.