Download - ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST
ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST
ROSEMARY THOMAS
HEAD OF PLANNING DIVISION
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
4th November 2008
CONTENT
• Policy Framework and Welsh Approach to Planning for onshore wind
• Current Situation
• Community Involvement and Benefit
• The Way Forward
POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR WELSH APPROACH
Energy Policy - focus on delivery of UK Government policy as
energy a “reserved matter”
Energy Generating Applications
UK Government determines:
on-shore 50MW +
off-shore 1MW + within territorial waters
50 MW + outside territorial waters
Welsh Assembly Government and its agencies determines:
on-shore below 50MW
THE WELSH APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR ONSHORE WIND
Renewable Energy Targets established Feb. 2003:
4TWh by 2010 7TWh by 2020
Recognised onshore wind offers the greatest potential to achieve the targets in the short term
Commitment to develop land use policy to help deliver targets
Underpinned by empirical research
Aim by 2010 for 1,000MW addition RE capacity of which:
800 on shore wind generation
200 off shore wind and other RE technologies
THE WELSH APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR ONSHORE WIND
July 2005 published final: Technical Advice Note 8 Planning
for Renewable Energy
Underpinned by empirical research
Identifies the least constrained areas of upland Wales with the most capacity for onshore wind developments
7 Strategic Search Areas with an indicative target of 800MW of installed capacity by 2010
CURRENT SITUATION
WAG established Monitoring system for TAN 8
Based on annual returns from local planning authorities
Latest data relates to April 2008 in MWSSA Application
lodgedConsented Under
ConstructionOperational Operational
Pre 2005Refused Refused
Appeal lodged
Total
A 23 64.5 21.25 58 166.75B 115.6 63.35 178.95C 312 312D 0E 116.8 39 4 159.8F 104 10.4 21 12 147.4G 30 30Outside SSA 31.3 15.65 11.7 5.35 183.15 0.5 23.9 271.55Total 732.7 129.55 11.7 47.6 246.5 74.5 23.9 1266.45
POLICY OUTSIDE SSAs
• Windfarms up to 25MW encouraged on urban/brownfield
sites
• smaller, community based windfarms (less than 5MW)
encouraged
• single turbines maybe suitable
• relaxation of permitted development framework underway
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
• Policy supports provision of Community Benefits for the host
communities
• Any proposed benefits must not influence the decision on
whether or not to grant planning consent
• TAN 8 provides details of the types of benefits that could be
sought
COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES
39 turbines generating 58.8MW developed by Cambrian Wind
Energy on Forestry Commission estate
Opened 2005 pre TAN 8
Main Benefits
1. S106 included Land Management Plan and the
establishment of an Environmental Management Committee
COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES
2. The developer contributes £10,000 pa for the lifetime of the
wind farm (total £250,000) for site restoration eg
re-wetting of bog habitat and re-seeding of heather
COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES
3. Trust Fund established by Deed of Covenant
Developer to pay £1000 per MW per year (i.e. £58,500)
into the Fund- index linked
5 Trustees - the Operator and 2 representatives from the
host Community Councils
Manage the fund and consider applications from the local
community and charitable organisations
SSA IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
• Resistance by the public to changes in environment
• Technological advances means potentially greater
generating capacity
• Local priorities v implementation of renewable energy policy
• Community benefits - who benefits
• Perception that planning is failing to deliver Planning White
Paper and Planning Bill
THE WAY FORWARD
• Security of energy supply and addressing climate change mean pressure
for renewable energy will increase, not decrease
• Need to manage public resistance to changes in their environment
• Need to recognise tensions between national policy requirements and
local priorities and politics
• Work constructively with, local authorities, communities and statutory
consultees
• Aim for a win/win outcome
• Meanwhile, political commitment to review TAN 8, revising upwards
renewable energy targets. Work likely to commence latter part of 2009,
after Energy Strategy published.