Ian Austin, Davidson & Robertson Director and Head of Utilities, Energy and Infrastructure looks at the 2030 Clean Energy Plan and how it will impact farmers.
December 2024 saw the launch of the Government’s 2030 Clean Energy Plan, a plan to meet 100% of Great Britain’s electricity demand with clean power by 2030. An outcome of this plan is that a vast amount of infrastructure work is needed to create thousands of miles of new power network lines that will result in farmers being affected by such work. Ian Austin, Davidson & Robertson Director and Head of Utilities, Energy and Infrastructure looks at the 2030 Clean Energy Plan and how it will impact farmers.
There has been a huge shift to creating clean energy from renewable sources in the UK over the last decade – rising from 15% to 47%** in 2024. However, according to a report from the UK Government’s independent advisor, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), £60bn investment is still needed to deliver around 600 miles of onshore and 2,800+ miles of offshore power network lines. That’s more than double the total built in the last 10 years.
Ian said:
We have been acting for clients in the renewable sector for over quarter of a century, and exclusively for farming landowners and tenants affected by utility work for over fifteen years, so we are acutely aware of the massive requirement to create new infrastructure for electricity energy creation in the future. We are also very familiar with the issues farmers face when utilities infrastructure crosses their land and have been expanding our team across Scotland and the North of England to deal with the surge in activity and enquiries.
Rapid delivery of 80 network and enabling infrastructure projects is essential to achieve the 2030 Clean Energy Plan and beyond. Many projects are already in the pipeline, affecting farmers where new pylons, transmission lines and upgrades to existing lines are required.
On the generation side of the Plan, the National Grid Reforms (TMO4) gave an amnesty to energy developers sitting on ‘zombie’ projects (with grid approval but no land right agreements in place). As part of the 2030 plan, the UK Government is also speeding up the process of how energy development projects are reviewed at the planning stage. In England, they are proposing a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make the planning process quicker and easier, to speed up the delivery of Clean Energy developments.
More focus will be on wind (offshore and onshore), and solar energy generation sources because it is widely acknowledged that multiple renewables sources are needed.
Offshore wind projects can take over a decade to go live, but onshore wind and particularly solar projects, are quicker to set up. It’s no surprise that onshore wind is now back in the frame in England and greater emphasis will be placed on technological advances for solar projects across Scotland and England. There is a strong push for onshore wind and solar to meet the targets, onshore wind must double in capacity and solar needs to triple.
On advice from NESO grid application reviews were temporarily halted on 29th January 2025 to ‘spring-clean’ the process, changing focus to prioritise projects that can accomplish clean energy on target. Future projects are likely to be evaluated based on quality and quantity, and whether developers have land rights secured with landowners and secure agricultural tenants.
What are the implications for farmers?
At this stage, renewable projects that already have a grid offer and land rights secured are unlikely to see any negative effects. Developers that have yet to apply for a project’s grid connection will now need to wait for applications to reopen later this year. Going forward, NESO’s plan is that projects, which are deemed essential, and has its grid connection and land rights secured should move forward to development at a quicker pace. Conversely, projects without land rights secured or not meeting requirements could be delayed or rejected from the grid connection queue.
Ian concluded:
For farmers faced with infrastructure project crossing their land, and for those looking to develop sites for renewable energy, the key message remains the same – take professional advice from Agents with significant experience in this sector, and do not sign anything until you are fully aware of your rights and options. In most cases, your reasonable professional costs are likely to be covered either by the utility company or the developer.
An Agent will identify potential issues and suggest solutions as well as determining the value of your land and property rights. We have seen numerous cases where the value of an access strip of land had a far greater value to the project than simply the acreage value, and we have successfully negotiated improved offers for clients relative to the value of the development.
Developing your own renewable project
The UK Government’s desire for more onshore wind and solar generation opens up realistic opportunities for landowners to benefit from such developments. Whilst such developments can take years to come to fruition, the benefits can be transformational for a farming business. Weighing up your options, and partnering with the right developer, are key, and this is where working with a trusted and experienced Agent from the outset will make a long term difference to your business.
It is essential to talk to an Agent who has significant knowledge in this ever evolving market sector, and one who can recommend credible developers to approach with proposals.
A good agent may suggest that you approach several developers or will engage with the developer you have already chosen for a project and can explain the long-term implications for your business. Importantly, they will also know current market values and will be skilled in negotiating commercial terms on your behalf.
For over a quarter of a century, D&R has been acting for clients in the renewable energy sector, working on projects that have contributed to around 10% of all Scotland’s renewable energy creation to date (that’s more than 1 GW of renewable energy delivery to the grid).
Infrastructure and renewable energy projects are intertwined, and the D&R team has decades of expertise to deal with both. For a confidential conversation contact Ian Austin, D&R Director, and Head of Utilities Energy and Infrastructure on 0131 449 6212.
**Renewable Energy & Clean Technology (REA)
