Onshore Wind Conference 2026 Programme

Stephen Gethins MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy, Scottish Government

As the targets for Clean Power 2030 move closer and the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) edges towards reality, the onshore wind sector is entering a new phase of delivery - one shaped not only by ambitions for deployment, but by long-term strategic planning, grid reform and system-wide co-ordination. Industry and government must now work together to deliver at scale while balancing our electricity needs with the reality of project development.

This session will explore the practical realities of building onshore wind projects today and what will be needed to maintain deployment in the years ahead. From grid and planning reform to investor confidence and supply chain readiness, this opening discussion will examine how the sector can continue evolving as a crucial part of the future energy system through to 2050.

In this session, we will cover:

• How the policy landscape is shaping the future of onshore wind.
• What the SSEP means for deployment and long-term system co-ordination.
• How grid reform, routes to market and investment signals are impacting project delivery.
• What the sector must prioritise to deliver at scale beyond 2030.

Chair
James Robottom, Head of Onshore Wind Delivery, RenewableUK

Speakers
Matthieu Hue, Chief Executive Officer, EDF power solutions UK and Ireland

As the UK moves forward with reformed national pricing and wider electricity market reform, the onshore wind sector is going through a period of market and network transformation. With Scotland continuing to play a central role in the UK’s ambitions for the sector, questions around transmission charging, local investment signals, grid constraints and long-term system planning remain critical to future growth.

This session will explore what evolving market reform could mean for onshore wind deployment, investor confidence and project economics across the UK. From TNUoS and connections reform, to routes to market, balancing mechanisms and the role of the SSEP, we will examine how market design can support long-term deployment while maintaining investment certainty, system efficiency and regional growth.

In this session, we will cover:

• What reformed national pricing and wider market reform could mean for the build out of onshore wind projects.
• How transmission charging, locational signals and connections reform could shape future investment decisions.
• What role Scotland could play in delivering long-term system planning and the impact it could have on our deployment ambitions.
• How market reform could impact investor confidence, routes to market and project economics.

Chair
Nick Hibberd, Policy Manager, RenewableUK

Sponsored by SLR

As onshore wind deployment accelerates across the UK and Scotland, the planning system is evolving in how it assesses environmental consideration for consenting decisions. From the implications of the Raeshaw Farms decision on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in Scotland to peatland protection and biodiversity priorities to the move toward Environmental Outcome Reports in England, developers are facing a shifting landscape of expectations for supporting nature.

This session will explore how environmental policy is evolving alongside sector-wide ambitions. Speakers will examine how the sector can address policy changes and balance the accelerated roll-out of onshore wind with long-term environmental stewardship and responsible land use.

In this session, we will cover:

• How industry can move forward post Raeshaw Farms.
• How peatland, biodiversity and environmental priorities are influencing onshore wind development.
• What the transition from EIAs to Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs) could mean for developers and environmental assessment practices.

Sponsored by Nadara

As the UK and Scotland’s onshore wind fleets continue to mature, repowering and extending the lifetime of projects are becoming increasingly important to meeting the sector’s long-term ambitions. With grid connections, land availability and system efficiency under growing pressure, existing sites need to be viewed as strategic assets within the future energy network.

This session will explore the barriers to effectively repowering onshore wind assets. From planning reform and consenting challenges to turbine technology, the circular economy and long-term asset management, speakers will examine the changes needed for developers and policymakers to optimise onshore wind sites through repowering, while supporting future growth and system-wide delivery beyond 2030.

In this session, we will cover:

• What commercial and regulatory factors are shaping sector-wide decisions for repowering and lifetime extensions.
• How planning and consenting frameworks could impact the future of repowering across Scotland and the UK.
• What role repowering could play in the future of onshore wind and how it could support grid capacity, while delivering the UK Government’s Clean Power ambitions.
• How developers are approaching circular economy principles, technology upgrades and long-term asset management.

Speakers
James Gibson, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Sponsored by SmartestEnergy

This session will provide an end-to-end view of the onshore wind market across the UK – from project pipeline and development through to routes to market and revenue strategies. Bringing together developers, suppliers and offtakers, we’ll explore how evolving Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), CfD structures and wider market dynamics are shaping project viability, investment decisions, and delivery timelines.

In this session, we will cover:

• An overview of the UK onshore wind pipeline and regional market activity.
• How routes to market – including PPAs and CfDs – are evolving and what this means for project bankability.
• Insights from developers, suppliers and off-takers on risks, opportunities and investment signals.
• Where gaps remain across the value chain and what is needed to accelerate delivery.

Speakers
Will Russell, PPA Business Development Manager, SmartestEnergy
Monika Paplaczyk, Chief Investment Officer, Thrive Renewables

To realise the UK’s clean energy potential and position the country as a global leader, a strong and resilient supply chain is essential. Across the country, suppliers are rising to the challenge. This session highlights the capabilities of onshore wind suppliers through a series of concise, focused presentations. Hear directly from the businesses delivering real-world solutions and driving progress in the development of onshore wind.

In this session, businesses will outline:

• Their solutions to a key industry challenge.
• A market-ready innovation or product they offer.
• Their contribution to improving the sector’s efficiency and growth.

Chair
James Robottom, Head of Onshore Wind Delivery, RenewableUK

All delegates, exhibitors and speakers are welcome to join this drinks reception in the exhibition hall at the end of day one.

Tara Singh, CEO, RenewableUK

While the onshore wind sector continues to work toward delivering enough capacity to meet the UK Government’s ambitious Clean Power Action Plan, the sector is operating within an increasingly complex planning and consenting environment. Alongside growing pressure to deliver projects quicker, developers and policymakers are also navigating planning reform, environmental assessment changes and wider strategic system planning.

This session will explore how consenting frameworks are adapting to support long-term ambitions beyond 2030. From strategic planning and policy reform to regulatory coordination and consenting timelines, speakers will examine what is needed to streamline delivery while maintaining confidence in the planning system and balancing competing land-use priorities.

In this session, we will cover:

• Trends in consenting timelines and the impact of these timelines on deployment.
• How planning and consenting reform could shape the future of onshore wind across the UK.
• What strategic planning and policy reform could mean for project delivery and long-term system coordination.
• How developers, regulators and government are responding to ongoing consenting challenges.
• What barriers still exist within the planning process and how the sector is working to overcome them.

As ambitions accelerate across the UK and Scotland, the onshore wind sector faces growing pressure to scale up the workforce, supply chain and industrial capability needed to support long-term delivery. From manufacturing and local content, to refurbishment, decommissioning and skills development, the sector is increasingly focused on how to build resilient supply chains capable of supporting growth beyond 2030.

This session will explore the opportunities and challenges involved in developing a strong domestic onshore wind supply chain. Speakers will examine how industry, government and local communities can work together to strengthen the future workforce, attract investment and maximise the long-term economic and industrial value of onshore wind in Scotland and across the UK.

In this session, we will cover:

• How Scotland and the UK are approaching workforce planning and skills development for onshore wind.
• What opportunities exist across manufacturing, refurbishment, decommissioning and local supply chains.
• How developers and policymakers are working to strengthen domestic industrial capability and regional economic value.
• What the sector must prioritise to build resilient supply chains capable of supporting long-term deployment ambitions.

Chair
Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain, RenewableUK

As onshore wind ambitions continue to accelerate across the UK, resolving long-standing technical barriers remain crucial to delivering this technology. From aviation objections and mitigation solutions, to repowering and growing turbine sizes, the sector continues to face practical challenges that can delay and constrain projects.

This session will explore the latest developments, policy discussions and industry-led solutions aimed at unlocking barriers to growth. Speakers will examine ongoing work relating to aviation, defence and the Met Office while discussing how greater coordination across industry and government could help optimise onshore wind development, and reduce delays.

In this session, we will cover:

• How aviation and defence considerations are continuing to impact the onshore wind sector.
• The latest engagement with the Met Office on weather radars and planning for future development.
• How industry and government are working together to reduce technical barriers and accelerate deployment.

Chair
Heidi Douglas-Osborn, Senior Policy Analyst, RenewableUK

Sponsored by Boralex

As deployment ambitions continue to accelerate across the UK and Scotland, expectations around community benefit, shared ownership and local value are continuing to evolve. Alongside a growing political focus on regional growth and maintaining public support for clean energy infrastructure, the onshore wind sector is facing increasing pressure to demonstrate how communities are benefiting from the transition to clean energy.

This session will explore how industry, government and local communities are approaching the evolving policy discussion around shared ownership, socio-economic value and long-term community relationships. Speakers will examine how the sector can strengthen both public and political buy-in while supporting the next phase of onshore wind growth.

In this session, we will cover:

• How expectations around community benefit and socio-economic value are evolving in Scotland and across the UK.
• How the UK Government’s shared ownership policy is shifting the conversation to increase political support for onshore wind.
• What the sector must do to maintain trust and strengthen support as more onshore wind is built across the country.

Speakers
Simon Peltenburg, Senior Director – UK Development, Boralex
Giulia Privirtera, Head of Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement, Nadara

Sponsored by Fred. Olsen Renewables

As ambitions continue to accelerate across the UK and Scotland, the practical realities of delivering onshore wind projects are becoming increasingly complex. From crane availability, supply chain pressures and overrun and oversail challenges, the sector is facing growing pressure to deliver bigger and more complex projects efficiently and at scale.

This session will explore the logistical and operational challenges shaping onshore wind deployment across the supply chain.

We will examine how developers, suppliers and infrastructure stakeholders are responding to evolving delivery demands, while discussing what is needed to improve coordination, reduce delays and support long-term delivery across the UK and Scotland.

In this session, we will cover:

• How transport and logistics constraints are impacting the sector.
• How operational suppliers and developers are responding to increasing project complexity and scale.
• What the sector must prioritise to reduce delays, improve coordination and support the long-term roll out of projects.

Sponsored by ESB

As the ambitions for onshore wind continue to accelerate across Scotland and the UK, grid infrastructure and connections reform are becoming increasingly vital to the future of onshore wind delivery. Alongside growing pressure to build out network infrastructure at pace, developers and policymakers are navigating major changes to the connections process, queue management and long-term system planning.

This session will explore how grid reform is shaping the future of onshore wind across the UK and Scotland. From connections reform and transmission infrastructure to timing challenges and strategic network planning, speakers will examine what is needed to unlock projects, reduce delays and support long-term ambitions beyond 2030.

In this session, we will cover:

• How connections reform and queue management changes are impacting onshore wind projects.
• What challenges transmission infrastructure and grid capacity constraints present for future growth.
• How strategic network planning and the SSEP could shape long-term deployment across the UK and Scotland.
• What industry and government must prioritise to accelerate connections and support delivery at scale.

James Robottom, Head of Onshore Wind Delivery, RenewableUK