New analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit has found that the area of land that could be affected by onshore wind farms in future is just 0.02 per cent of the UK's total land.

It is estimated that each onshore wind farm can typically provide 9NWof power from each square kilometre. But the turbines themselves stand on only a very small part of this area, around 1 per cent, leaving 99 per cent of the area free for farming or nature and wildlife.

To treble the amount of energy currently on shore in the UK (15GW to 45GW) would require around 5,000 square kilometres, or 2.1 per cent of the UK's land. But in reality, the actual footprint of the turbines would be 50 square kilometres (or 5,000 hectares). This is less than one fifth of the area used by landfill sites. These wind farms would generate more than the amount of electricity currently used by all 29 million homes in the UK when operating.

Matt Williams, land analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: "The real risk to the UK's food security is climate change and the record price of gas. Farmers and families have been feeling these effects through food bills at the checkout and through record farm bills for energy and gas-based fertilisers.”

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