Renewable energy projects are gaining momentum as businesses and householders choose clean power over fossil fuels.
A record amount of renewable energy capacity received planning permission in Q2 this year, adding momentum to the UK Government’s push for technologies such as wind and solar.
More than 16.1GW of new renewable energy capacity across 323 projects received permission to begin construction during this quarter – a 195 per cent increase on the same quarter last year.
News of the increase, reported in the Financial Times, accords with our own work here at Acuity Law [with Purpose?] as we work with our clients to accelerate investment and development in the renewable energy sector, both in the UK and globally.
The Government wants 95 per cent of Britain’s power generation to be carbon-free by 2030, fulfilling a key pledge in Labour’s manifesto. Meanwhile, challenges remain, such as a sizeable backlog in grid connections, and legal challenges from local opponents of projects.
Battery schemes get the go-ahead
Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary, granted planning permission for several solar farms soon after taking office in July 2024 to support his clean power target. SSE, a large offshore wind developer, recently received approval from the Scottish Government for its big Berwick Bank project off the east coast of Scotland.
The record number of planning approvals coincides with a surge in applications from developers for large-scale battery storage systems, which are vital for balancing electricity supply in the grid network.
Between April and June 2025, over 100 applications for battery energy storage systems were submitted in the UK, with a combined capacity of 8.4GW – more than double the number of applications made during the same quarter last year.
Acuity Law with Purpose supports investors, developers, and funders across the renewable energy sector — providing the legal clarity needed to navigate planning, regulation, and financing with confidence.
