New air defence radars, procured after close industry collaboration, will resolve interference issues between wind farms and national security systems. Installed from early 2029, the technology safeguards RAF threat detection while enabling offshore wind development—unlocking over 10 GW of capacity, including a record 8.4 GW procurement powering 12 million homes at costs 40% below new gas.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the radars remove a key barrier to clean homegrown power, protecting families from volatile fossil fuel markets. Defence Minister Luke Pollard emphasized the move supports national security alongside defence spending rising to 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
Benj Sykes of the Offshore Wind Industry Council described the solution as a landmark of government-industry collaboration, unlocking billions in investment and thousands of jobs without compromising defence.
The government has also launched a consultation to unlock up to 6 GW of onshore wind near the Eskdalemuir seismic array, proposing to block development within 15km while easing rules in the surrounding 15–50km zone.
