Understanding whether land is suitable for onshore wind development emerged as a recurring theme in conversations between farmers and renewable energy specialists at Cereals 2026.
While interest in renewable energy is nothing new, many of the landowners speaking with experts were focused on practical questions around site suitability, planning constraints, grid connections and what the development process would involve.
Hans-Georg von Lewinski, managing director of Caeli UK, said the conversations reflected a growing desire among landowners to better understand the opportunities available to them.
“One of the recurring themes at Cereals was that landowners want clear, independent information,” he said. “Many are aware of the growing focus on renewable energy but are looking for practical answers about whether their land could be suitable and what steps would be involved.
“The conversations are increasingly moving beyond the principle of renewable energy and towards understanding site-specific opportunities and constraints. Before making any long-term decisions, landowners want confidence that a project is both viable and appropriate for their business.”
These discussions took place shortly after the government confirmed its acceptance of the Climate Change Committee’s recommended Seventh Carbon Budget, setting a pathway towards an 87% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2042 compared with 1990 levels.
For Mr von Lewinski, the announcement provides further reassurance that renewable energy generation will remain a central part of the UK’s future energy system.
“Policy certainty is important because wind developments are long-term projects,” he said. “Landowners need confidence that they are exploring opportunities that align with the UK’s future energy and infrastructure requirements. The government’s latest commitment reinforces the role renewable energy will continue to play in delivering energy security and meeting future demand.”
He said landowners should also consider assessing potential opportunities sooner rather than later.
“Changes to grid-connection processes are expected to accelerate activity across the sector and could lead to increased competition for available grid capacity as more projects come forward.”
Interest in onshore wind continues to grow as farm businesses explore ways to strengthen long-term resilience and diversify income streams. Modern wind developments typically occupy a relatively small footprint of farmland, allowing surrounding land to remain in agricultural production.
However, site suitability can vary significantly depending on factors such as wind resource, grid capacity, planning considerations and local constraints.
“Not every site will be suitable for development,” added Mr von Lewinski. “That is why early assessment is so important. Understanding both the opportunities and the constraints allows landowners to make informed decisions and approach the market with realistic expectations, creating competition for suitable sites and helping ensure value is shared more transparently between stakeholders.”
As the UK continues its transition towards lower-carbon energy generation, rural landowners are expected to play an increasingly important role in delivering new renewable energy capacity.
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