Government proposes planning exemption for 50kW wind turbines to power depot operations and EV charging

Wind turbines that feed power directly into business sites could become common in the UK after the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) proposed to make them ‘permitted development’. The power generated would be used on-site, without the need to upgrade or add new grid connections.

DESNZ is consulting on making the change for 30m-high turbines typically rated at up to 50kW, which it says describes as “sufficient to make a meaningful contribution to the energy needs of small businesses or public facilities”. It says there are many locations where such turbines – described as comparable to a mature oak tree - can be sited without dominating the landscape.

The consultation goes further to asks whether larger turbines, or more than one small turbine, could be permitted on a large site. There would be restrictions on how close any turbine could be to neighbouring homes.

European Green Transition (EGT), a company that provides services for around 900 turbines of this type, said: “The government’s proposal to allow small onshore wind turbines to be installed without planning permission could be a significant step forward for businesses seeking greater cost certainty and energy security. For logistics hubs and depots, it removes a key barrier to adopting clean, renewable energy, making it significantly easier to generate power on site. These small turbines generate power directly on site so the electricity can be used immediately for charging electric HGVs or powering depot operations. This eliminates the need for additional and often costly connections to the national grid, simplifying the process and reducing implementation barriers.

It added: “The logistics sector is at a critical point in its transition. As demand for power grows alongside the shift to electric HGVs, scalable, site-based energy solutions will be essential. Removing planning barriers has the potential to unlock significant opportunities for freight operators to lead the way in embracing clean, domestically generated energy, helping to future-proof operations and reduce environmental impact.

“Small-scale wind turbines are a proven, mature technology across UK industrial and commercial settings. They are straightforward to install and can be tailored to meet the specific energy needs of logistics operators. For freight operators looking to transition their fleets to EVs, these turbines address a key challenge: the need for reliable and affordable on-site power. By using clean energy generated at their depots, operators can reduce their exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices while also meeting sustainability targets and supporting the wider decarbonisation of the logistics sector.”

The amount of power generated by a 50kW turbine depends on the typical wind conditions at the site and on weather over the period. Small wind turbines of this type are available on the second hand market via a number of suppliers (eg MWPS, HitWind, usedwindturbines.co.uk) as they can be removed and transported to a new site and this gives an indication of the variability.

A typical average production from a 50kW turbine was said to be 75,000kWh annually. But one 50kW Endurance E3120 turbine advertised on the MWPS site was said to be producing an average of 185,000 kWh yearly, feeding a local business during business hours and exporting into the grid during out-of-business hours. It was originally installed in the South West in 2014 at a turbine cost of £250,000 and it is being replaced with a larger version. In contrast another, poorly sited, turbine had produced just 12,000kWh per annum.

EGT said: “We’ve seen first-hand how effective these systems can be in supporting site-specific energy needs. Our teams work closely with site operators to ensure turbines are installed safely and maintained for long-term performance. As the onshore wind sector grows, so too will the need for high-quality operations and maintenance services, ensuring turbines continue to deliver reliable, efficient power over their lifetime”.

The DESNZ consultation will run for 12 weeks until 10 June 2026 and the department plans to publish a response with next steps in autumn 2026.