Wild Land News no 67, Autumn 2006

Developments in Renewable Energy since March 2006 Article

Fiona Anderson reports

It is 2 years since I last undertook a review of press articles on RE concerns, mostly though not entirely from Scottish Environment News and Planning magazine. I have noticed not a great, but a significant reduction in column length of reporting on windfarm applications since the frenetic days of 2004, possibly with planning authorities organising themselves better with strategic advice. SNH has found that most developers are now avoiding locations that would cause a significant impact on wild land and wildlife, and possibly also the smaller local developments are becoming more accepted. The Government and Scottish Executive are both more committed to taking effective action on climate change and energy review. The whole scene has changed for the better

Climate Change Review

At the end of March the Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett admitted that the target of cutting the UK's carbon emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010 would be missed.. Much of the blame was laid on stronger than expected economic growth and escalating gas prices forcing power companies to switch back to coal use. Friends of the Earth were scathing over the obsession with economic growth. Another Planning Policy Statement was announced instead, which, 6 months later has reached draft stage for England & Wales (PPG22)

Beauly to Denny National Grid line

In April Highland Council were set to oppose the 400kv line, raising the prospect of a public inquiry despite supporting in principle the need for strengthening the transmission network. This was because of significant adverse amenity effects along 4 specific lengths, Beauly to Eskdale, Cannich to Guisachan, the River Speyside to Feargour Wood and west of the A889 to East of the A9. By June the Inquiry was expected to start in early 2007 and last 9 months, costing the objectors (Highland, Stirling, Falkirk and Perth & Kinross Councils plus SNH and Cairngorms NPA up to £450,000. By July however, Jimmy Macdonald, a Highland Councillor, was saying that the inquiry would be a waste of public money as 95% of the scheme was acceptable and the outcome had already been decided. The Director of Planning said he was confident the costs would be shared between the relevant local authorities and public agencies. He thought they would see an upgraded line but they are fighting to ensure the route is correct in four specific cases and that the line is put underground in a couple of small sections.

Energy Review "Our Energy Challenge"

In April the Government announced a review of future energy needs and supplies and which was published in July. It says that without further action and greater long term certainty for investors, the recent growth in renewables to 1.25% of total UK supply with a further 11,000MW (9%) of wind energy in the planning system, may slow between 2010 and 2020. This is blamed on scarcity of sites for hydro schemes and planning delays on wind farms. Barriers will be removed to small scale household RE applications, and the Renewables Obligation will be strengthened and modified to support 20% of electricity generation. The Government proposes to streamline energy planning by setting out national statements of need for energy sources, dealing with such issues as health and safety, and restricting public enquiries to local concerns. Little mention is made of biomass, energy from waste or combined heat and power. A consultation on nuclear policy will feed into a White Paper towards the end of the year. Blair emphasised that revival of nuclear power is only part of the answer to energy supply.

Micropower Bill

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, the primary legislation in England & Wales required to allow widespread small scale electricity generation, received Royal Assent in June. The Scottish equivalent proposed by Sarah Boyack was formally lodged in June. It requires all new buildings to include micro-generation as permitted development.

Shetland Islands Council

Shetland Islands Council was reported in April to be promoting a £1bn community owned windfarm in partnership with Scottish & Southern Energy. It would be Europe's most productive windfarm as it would generate electricity at close to maximum capacity for around half of the time. An environmental impact study is being prepared and there has been close consultation with conservation organisations. There has been no noticeable local opposition.y

Whitelee

Scottish Power's 322MW windfarm on Eaglesham Moor, Europe's largest, was approved in May by Ministers. 140 turbines will be built by 2009. This represents 5% of the capacity required for the Scottish Executive to meet its target of 40% of energy from renewables by 2020. Meanwhile the windfarm at Barvas Moor on Lewis will be reduced by 10 turbines to 190 to meet the objections about bird life.

Highland's RE Strategy

Scotland's first detailed RE strategy was adopted in May. It has 3 preferred areas for major wind farms in the Monadhliaths , south of Inverness, East Sutherland and Easter Ross. The Director of Planning said they developed their own strategy as they already had 2,000MW in projects with approval or awaiting it and they could not keep waiting for the Executive to prepare a national strategy. It would be subject to constant review.

Sub-sea cables study

HIE announced in May a feasibility study into options for cable connections between Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to the mainland. In June the Scottish Executive announced funding. The creation of a cable between Shetland and Norway is also being considered. Potential connection points on the mainland include Melvich in Sutherland, Peterhead, Inverkip, Hunterston and Liverpool. In response to claims that this would reduce the need for the Beauly to Denny transmission line, Scottish & Southern Energy said it needs to be upgraded now.

Marine Energy

The Scottish Executive launched a consultation in May on the best way to increase energy generation from wave and tidal sources in Scotland. It acknowledged that these technologies are not receiving sufficient support from the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) System (ROS). The proposal is for a "banded" Obligation so that part of it must be met by electricity from wave or tidal devices. The new system should be in place by April 2007 and responses were due by August 3rd

Sutherland Hydro Scheme

In May the Chairman of Assynt Community Council, a trustee of the John Muir Trust said that the hydro-electric scheme under consideration for several years for the Reay Forest Estate near Scourie in Sutherland could have a disastrous effect on wild land and tourism. It would involve damming existing lochs, flooding neighbouring land and constructing tunnels and roads. Npower Renewables is currently carrying out an environmental assessment.

Scottish draft SPP6

The Scottish draft SPP6 was published in July. It requires new developments to generate at least 10% of their energy on-site from renewable sources and for local authorities to designate areas suitable for wind farm applications and those that are not. Greater account should be taken of natural heritage and the cumulative effects of wind farm applications. Local community involvement is encouraged through community ownership of RE projects, small scale local windfarms, use of community trust funds or funds from developers. The Executive is also considering classing RE technologies as "permitted development." But commentators have said the planning system alone cannot ensure the delivery of sustainable energy - a tough strategy and ambitious targets for cutting waste are urgently needed. And most applications for windfarms over 50MW do not go through the usual planning process but are determined by Scottish Ministers. Although there is no indication that such proposals will be governed in future by the new SPP, there is a hint in the Energy Review that the current overhaul of the planning system may bring some of these proposals into the Planning domain. The consultation period ends October 6th

Ochils Windfarms

In July Ramblers Association Scotland called on shareholders at the Scottish power AGM to reverse company plans to build a large windfarm at Green Knowes in the Ochil Hills. Seven windfarms are planned by different developers in the Perth & Kinross and Clackmannanshire Council areas. This would be completely out of scale with the landscape of this compact range of hills and would adversely affect recreation and tourism. RAS claims that the Renewables Obligation Certificate system is to blame for this huge emphasis on land-based turbines and proposes it be amended by the measures proposed by the Scottish Executive in May. They are also campaigning to get tighter height restrictions built into planning guidance.

North Uist-Harris link

In September consultants for Western Isles Council reported that a 5km "green" causeway, linking North Uist and Harris, could be built to complete the spinal route between Eriskay and the Butt of Lewis. It would include tidal generators and be flanked by wind turbines. Part of it could be raised to allow vessels to sail through the Sound of Harris.

Orkney wave power project

Following a visit to an Edinburgh based wave power project in Portugal, Nicol Stephen, the Enterprise Minister, announced in early September that he wants to see similar devices operating in Scottish waters by next summer. A share of £8million funding for marine energy projects will be invested in a Pelamis project at the European Marine Energy Centre on Orkney.