Growing Turbines Planning for wind farms Marcus Trinick QC Eversheds LLP April 2013.

Growing Turbines

Planning for wind farms

Marcus Trinick QC Eversheds LLPApril 2013

PLANNING FOR WIND FARMS

• The Need for Onshore Wind• Planning for Onshore Wind Farms

Topics

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

Glyndebourne turbine

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

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