Repowering at the heart of 2030 cleaner power goals.
With onshore wind already powering 12% of UK electricity generation, repowering is the key to creating a cleaner, more resilient power system by 2030.
Watch the video below to learn how Nadara is leading repowering.
What is Repowering?
Repowering is the process of upgrading ageing onshore wind turbines, responsible for generating around 12% of the UK’s electricity generation, by upgrading and/or replacing older turbines with modern, more efficient models while reusing much of the existing infrastructure.
Instead of dismantling wind farms at the end of their ~ 25-year lifecycle, repowering can extend value, boost energy output by between 3 and 10 times, reduce environmental impact, and ensure a consistent supply of secure, home-grown renewable power to support the UK’s energy transition.
How Does Repowering Work?
Repowering can often reuse much of the existing infrastructure, such as roads, cabling, and grid connections, to upgrade existing onshore wind farms. Depending on the site, this can mean fully or partially replacing older machines with new-generation models capable of producing between 3 and 10 times more renewable energy.
Just as important as the technical upgrades are the environmental and community considerations. Every repowering project includes thorough noise, visual, and biodiversity assessments, ensuring wildlife, landscapes, and local resources are protected.
At Nadara, we place communities at the heart of the process, listening, engaging, and investing, so that repowering not only delivers cleaner, more reliable power but also lasting benefits for the people and places that host our wind farms.
Why is Repowering Important?
Repowering is central to the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 strategy, which targets 27–29 GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030 and 35–37 GW by 2035. Without repowering, up to 9 GW of capacity could be lost by 2050, undermining progress towards climate and energy security goals.
Repowering can also reinforce:
- Energy security: providing consistent, home-grown electricity as demand surges through the 2030s.
- Faster decarbonisation: extending the life of existing wind farms reduces the need to build new projects on untouched land.
- Community resilience: projects continue to deliver local investment, shared ownership opportunities, and community benefits.
Unlocking the full potential of repowering requires clear and supportive policy. Faster and simpler planning, priority access to grid connections, and a stable investment framework will help ensure projects can be delivered efficiently. By recognising repowering as a national clean energy priority and encouraging collaboration between government, industry, and communities, the UK can accelerate progress toward its 2030 clean power targets while maximising benefits for people and places.
Key Benefits
More Home-Grown Energy
Increasing energy output, reducing carbon emissions and helping secure the UK’s energy supply as demand surges. Repowering Nadara’s ageing wind turbines could generate enough electricity to power an extra 3 million homes across the country
Economic Growth
Repowering could support 27,000 new jobs across the UK, boosting local economies and communities.
Efficiency Gains
New turbines are more reliable and require less maintenance, reducing operational downtime and costs.
Decarbonisation
Reusing existing sites minimises land disturbance and reduces the impact on new land.
Community Value
Nadara is committed to shared ownership, transparent engagement, and ensuring communities benefit from long-term renewable investment.
Key Stats and Data Points
12%
UK total electricity generation currently powered by onshore wind.
27–29 GW
onshore wind needed by 2030.
3 million
additional homes powered through repowering by Nadara alone.
27,000
additional jobs projected nationwide – repowering offers a major economic opportunity.
Nadara’s Commitment to Repowering
With 1 GW of installed onshore wind capacity and some of the UK’s oldest wind farms under operation, Nadara is at the forefront of making repowering a reality.
Our mission is simple: harness the power of nature for good while deepening our contribution to communities and the environment. From habitat restoration to local investment programmes, Nadara’s projects ensure that the transition to clean power benefits everyone.
Repowering is not just about turbines. It is about securing a cleaner, more resilient energy future for the UK.