UK onshore wind installed capacity
UK onshore wind installed capacity stood at 16,833.07 Megawatts in Q2 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Renewables and gas supply table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2010 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Renewables and gas supply table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed capacity | |||||||||||
| Onshore wind | 16,833.07 | 16,613.86 | 16,430.69 | 16,363.58 | 16,316.28 | 16,154.27 | 16,199.27 | 16,122.47 | 15,655.36 | 15,561.72 | |
| Offshore wind — seabed | 16,653.05 | 16,653.05 | 16,570.05 | 16,570.05 | 16,570.05 | 16,235.05 | 16,060.05 | 15,612.05 | 15,612.05 | 14,730.05 |
Understanding UK onshore wind installed capacity
Nameplate capacity of terrestrial wind turbine installations generating electricity across the United Kingdom is recorded by this series. Measuring the maximum rated output of mainland wind farms, it excludes offshore arrays anchored to the seabed or floating platforms. Micro-wind turbines situated on domestic properties are generally excluded unless linked to registered commercial portfolios. This terrestrial technology segment sits alongside offshore wind and solar photovoltaic series within the broader renewable capacity portfolio.
Interpreting terrestrial wind data requires accounting for geographic planning constraints and grid connection bottlenecks that influence deployment rates. Capacity figures reflect the commissioning of new turbines rather than short-term fluctuations in wind speed or seasonal generation patterns. Revisions occur when operators update their declared maximum capacities or when dormant sites are officially decommissioned. Analysts comparing this metric with generation data must account for the lower load factors typical of onshore sites relative to offshore counterparts.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include offshore wind farms located near the coast?
- No, offshore installations are recorded in separate seabed and floating wind categories.
- How frequently are capacity ratings updated for existing wind farms?
- Operators report modifications as they occur, but administrative processing means updates appear periodically in quarterly releases.
- Is domestic micro-wind generation counted in these figures?
- Small household turbines are largely excluded due to reporting thresholds, with the data focusing primarily on commercial-scale projects.