OVO to Revamp Britain’s Outdated Wind Farms with Fresh Investment

OVO has unveiled a new business arm, OVO Renewables, with a clear mission: to breathe new life into the UK’s ageing onshore wind fleet. The energy supplier explained that this new division will focus on redeveloping existing wind farms using the latest technology, aiming to extend their operational life and significantly increase energy output. It’s a modern upgrade for an ageing but vital part of the UK’s clean energy infrastructure.

In its initial phase, OVO Renewables could deliver up to 500 megawatts of capacity. That’s enough to power around 400,000 homes, a substantial contribution toward the country’s renewable energy goals.

This initiative aligns directly with the UK Government’s broader ambitions, specifically its target to achieve 30 gigawatts of onshore wind capacity by 2030, as outlined in the Clean Power Action Plan.

To achieve this, OVO plans to partner with NextLife Energy, a specialist investor and developer in the clean energy sector. Together, they aim to identify, acquire, manage, and repower wind projects throughout the UK, helping to modernise the nation’s renewable energy landscape one turbine at a time.

David Buttress, chief executive of OVO, said: “Britain built some of the world’s first onshore wind farms, but many are now ageing fast.

“We’re creating a huge opportunity to unlock more clean, secure energy without the delays that come with building new sites.

“OVO Renewables has the potential to breathe new life into Britain’s green power infrastructure, delivering real benefits to customers and communities.”

OVO also highlighted the potential role of its sister company, Kaluza, in supporting the new renewables venture. As an advanced energy technology platform, Kaluza could enable the direct delivery of green electricity to local communities in the future, making clean energy more accessible at a grassroots level.

To gauge public sentiment, OVO commissioned fresh polling, and the results are telling. A striking 84 per cent of consumers said they support upgrading existing wind farms with quieter, more efficient turbines. In contrast, only 60 per cent said they would back the development of entirely new wind farms on previously untouched land nearby.

This data underscores a growing public preference for modernising what’s already in place, rather than expanding into new areas, a trend OVO Renewables appears well-positioned to lead.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks welcomed the initiative, saying: “This is a hugely exciting new venture from OVO, showcasing how the public and private sector are working in lockstep to end our reliance on unstable global gas markets with homegrown, clean power we control.

“Repowering existing wind farms will be a key part of how we build a cheaper, cleaner, more secure energy system.”

Lord Smith of Kelvin, chair of NextLife Energy, said: “Acquiring mid-life projects with the potential to repower means important generation capacity is not retired from our UK network.

“The launch of OVO Renewables and the partnership with NextLife Energy is an exciting opportunity for both businesses.”