growing turbines planning for wind farms marcus trinick qc eversheds llp april 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Where we want to be • EU 2020 targets
– 15% of energy in the UK to be renewable • 12-18GW of installed offshore wind• 13-15GW installed onshore wind • At least 30% of electricity generated from renewables
PLANNING FOR WIND FARMS
• Some figures • Why 30% from renewable electricity required• Limits to contribution to 30% from wave, tidal
and hydroelectric power • Solar and biomass energy – big targets but
challenges and low utilisation • The bulk will come from onshore and offshore
wind
The Need for Onshore Wind
The Need For Onshore Wind
• Currently 11% of electricity from renewables (2012)• Estimates for onshore wind of 12%-18% by 2020
– But environmental, finance and supply chain challenges– May limit offshore to 12% or much less by 2020
• If 10% from offshore wind then an additional 9% required to meet 30%
• 9% of electricity = 9GW approx of onshore wind – the only realistic source for the balance of the 30%
Some figures
The Need For Onshore Wind
• 1.8GW under construction March 2013• 4GW with permission March 2013 – 3GW may get built• Therefore 4GW or so of unconsented onshore required for
2020• 11GW of onshore wind in planning system of which about
5GW will get permission• Therefore we may get successfully to 2020 – BUT...
What we need from onshore wind.
The Need For Onshore Wind
• Planning for post 2020 has started• Future decarbonisation targets• Security of supply issues and the need to fund European
interconnection • Building an industry• Onshore wind the cheapest of the renewables and it is
financeable
Beyond 2020
The Need For Onshore Wind
• Mobile finance looks at countries not technologies• Capital markets already jittery about UK following price
support review – and Hayes, Osborne etc• Horizon Nuclear Power sale and Centrica withdrawal from
nuclear• Playing politics with energy is a very dangerous game – we
need more new generation urgently
A threat to onshore wind is a threat to all renewables
The Need For Onshore Wind
• Onshore price support capped by Government for all technologies
• If nuclear is expensive then onshore and offshore wind will be capped
• Reliance on swift delivery by nuclear is dangerous• Threat of higher electricity prices if contribution of onshore
wind is constrained or capped – beware what you campaign for
And just to brighten the day
Planning For Wind Farms
• Willing land owner (s)• Viable grid connection• Access • Enough wind
Lack of one or more of the above is a significant constraint on deployment
Basic requirements
Planning For Wind Farms
• Evolution of high quality opposition • Assisted by the internet• Theme of evolution of issues, solutions and refinement of
further issues, • England, Wales and Scotland – very different challenges
The Sword and the Cuirass
Planning For Wind Farms
• Policies – much the same everywhere • Killer blows (eg)
• Aviation• Residential amenity• Birds• Noise
- In a site pre-planning all or some of above a huge constraint on capacity
Selecting a site – pre-planning
Planning For Wind Farms
• Landscape and visual effects• Calibrating approach• Value of landscape• The threat of single turbines
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Bats• The law• Emerging knowledge• Mitigation
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Birds• Rarely a big issue• Constraints on construction• Collision risk
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Noise• Complaint history• Health issues• Amplitude modulation• Getting it right
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Peat• Mainly Scottish issue• Stability• CO2 balance
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Cultural heritage • It’s a very old country• The issue is overplayed (in my view)• But it is a potent issue - Barnwell
Planning a selected site – core issues
Planning For Wind Farms
• Many and various• Autism • Eskdalemuir• Funny types of radar • Buddhists
- Don’t worry – we enjoy it
Planning a selected site – other issues