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The UK has reached a new milestone with the highest number of renewable energy projects applying for planning permission in the past four years. Energy companies are in a race to meet the rising electricity demand.

There were 269 planning applications for new wind, solar and bioenergy projects in 2019 – considerably higher that the 204 the year before, according to an analysis of government data by energy consultancy PX Group.

This hike in planning applications was the biggest annual increase in the recent past and is 75% higher than the he number of annual planning submissions made three years ago. There were just 154 submissions in 2016, rising to 185 in 2017. It is indicative of a growing hunger in the energy sector of the UK to meet its climate goals by cutting out carbon emissions through renewable energy projects.

Owing to technology costs falling and greater support from financers as renewable energy becomes an increasingly lucrative investment, clean energy developers have incentive as well as means to roll out more projects.

Geoff Holmes, the chief executive of PX Group, said: “It goes without saying that as more of these projects get off the ground, the faster the UK can get to a point where clean, green sources provide an even greater share of the UK’s energy.

“Of course, there is a lag time between submitting plans to councils and projects becoming fully operational, so more projects being in the pipeline is not a quick fix.”

Another important factor in this equation is the UK government’s decision to lift a block against subsidising onshore wind projects that was put in place approximately five years ago. The decision was prompted by the sharp decline in number of new onshore flarms which was in turn responsible for the lowest level of new onshore wind capacity since 2016 this year – a grave indication of the UK missing its climate targets.

Expectations are that this decision will urge further increased planning submissions for clean energy projects.

From next year, onshore wind developers will be allowed to compete for subsidies at auction alongside solar power developments and floating offshore wind projects, the government said last month.