Study finds England could produce 13 times more clean energy

The research team identified 219,800 hectares of land considered most suitable for new onshore wind developments and 295,000 hectares for new solar sites, some of which can be utilised for both. 

North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire were found to be among the top areas with potential for these renewable sites. An interactive map shows these identified sites at local authority level.

With this, the study claims that lifting barriers to onshore wind and solar power could produce 13 times more electricity than current levels generated by these sources in England.  

Although the study excluded national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), higher grade agricultural land, small developments and heritage sites from its mapping, the analysis still found enough viable land to generate 130,421GWh of solar power and 95,542GWh of onshore wind. 

The researchers said that this prediction far exceeds the current level of generation, at 17,063GWh combined.