Almost two-thirds of applications for renewable energy projects failed to make it through the planning process in the past five years, research has revealed.
Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight found that between 2018 and 2023, 63% of projects in Britain were either abandoned, refused, withdrawn, or expired.
Cornwall Insight infrastructure manager Lucy Dolton said the figures revealed a ‘substantial shortfall’ in the country's attempt to boost renewable energy capacity.
The approval rate remains low despite a rapid increase in the number of renewables applications, according to the consultancy.
This is partly because developers are increasingly submitting multiple applications with the expectation that very few will connect, which slows down the planning system, Cornwall Insight found.
It said the issue of speculative applications must be addressed and the connections process should be streamlined to speed up renewable energy development.
