Wind Energy Planning

A week of Controversy in Copenhagen

The mainstream press has been keeping a close eye on the COP15 conference in Copenhagen which was always set to generate a host of strong feelings both outside the conference hall and within.

A week into the conference and it has not failed to deliver the expected controvery. At the end of the first week an unauthorized 40,000 person demonstration yesterday led to 13 people being detained overnight.

The conference kicked off a week ago with the EU promising more money to combat global warming. The EU committed to fund 7.2 billion euro (US $10.5 billion) for tackling global warming over the next three years. The move was described by the UN climate chief as “hugely encouraging” for the climate conference process.

EU leaders also agreed to contribute 2.4 billion euro (US $3.6 billion) a year until 2012 to help poorer countries combat global warming. With the UK contributing one third of this – the average woman on the London street has however been left asking what happened to the contributions from other EU countries.

The Wave

Tens of thousands of people will be marching through the streets of London tomorrow to demonstrate their support for a deal to stop climate change.

The Wave will call on leaders across the globe to take urgent action to secure an international agreement to stop global warming rising above the ‘danger threshold’ of 2 degrees C. The march is to make a clear statement on climate change, the weekend before the start of Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Organisers of the march, Climate Chaos say that the world’s poorest and most vulnerable are already suffering the impacts of climate change. They are being hit first and worst because we, and other rich countries, created this mess and are making it worse.

Daily Mail Climate Change Denier ‘Grossly Irresponsible’

In the very week that President Obama announces he will be going to Copenhagen and committing the US to a carbon dioxide emission reduction target for the US, climate change sceptics refuse to accept that doing something about the issue is warranted.

The Obama promise of a 17% emissions reduction target below 2005 levels by 2020 were welcomed by some but described as inadequate by green groups. However a much smaller sector has been striving for media attention. Describing prominent scientists who try to warn people about climate change as ‘totalitarian’, Daily Mail columnist Melanie Phillips claimed on the BBC last night that ‘there is no evidence of global warming and that global temperatures are going down not up.’

Phillips told the gasping audience ‘you may find this hard to understand, but there is no evidence for global warming, the seas are not rising in any way out of the ordinary, the ice is not melting and the polar bears are increasing in number’. The audience, shocked by the claims were quickly becalmed by comedian and broadcaster Marcus Brigstocke, Scottish National Party deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Lord Falconer who were quick to point out the irresponsibility of not accepting the possibility.

Local Targets – Good for UK Renewable Energy?

The Conservative party tell us they are all about local empowerment and ‘decentralised devolution’. Their decentralisation green paper ‘Control Shift’ released earlier this year set out proposals for change if they are elected next year.

Conservative proposals include abolishing all planning and housing powers exercised by regional government, creating bottom up incentives for housebuilding by allowing councils to benefit from the increase in council tax revenues. They would also encourage councils to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over economic development functions.

In this decentralised scenario planners and industry groups have started to question where higher level housing and renewable energy targets would sit, given the need for the consideration of demand and supply opportunities somewhere between the national and local levels. This has previously been dealt with by either mid – tier county councils or regional governments.

Do Wind Turbines Work?

Numerous reports have now been published saying wind turbines work and can make an important contribution towards the UK’s energy needs.

Prominant energy analyst David Milborrow published a new report back in June which the wind energy industry hoped would put to bed the question of whether wind turbines work.

The report confirms that wind energy can substitute for thermal plant and enable the British power system to operate with the same level of reliability. According to Milborrow, Utilities worldwide generally agree there is no fundamental technical reason why “high proportions of wind cannot be assimilated without the lights going out”.

Contrary to what is sometimes banded about in the mainstream media, the findings demonstrate that widespread use of wind power leads to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. In addition variability in wind energy does not mean costs will be substantially higher.

MP Says We Don’t Want Wind Turbines Near our Homes

An English MP wants a new rule to say wind turbines can’t be built within 1.5 miles of homes. This would mean saying goodbye to new wind farms in the English countryside.

Peter Luff MP will tomorrow table a ten minute rule bill asking for an arbritrary 2km buffer zone between wind turbines and homes. This would mean a halt to new wind farms in England which is struggling to meet its renewable energy targets, and many parts of Scotland and Wales.

Ten minute rule bills are often used by MPs to provoke a debate and although unlikely to be successful- an arbritrary 2 km limit would bring about a collapse in the entire English onshore wind industry. This in turn would also probably cause some damage to the offshore wind energy sector as England is seen increasingly by wind turbine manufacturers (like Vestas on the Isle of Wight) as anti-wind. Attempts to kick off small or community led renewable energy projects would be much harder without the support of a healthy renewables industry.

Will the Conservatives Introduce County Renewable Energy Targets?

With the proposed Conservative abolition of regional planning, many renewable energy developers have been asking the question; if the Conservatives get into power next year, who will be responsible for setting renewable energy targets?

Planning Magazine reported last week that the Tories are looking at a return to county structure plans. Most UK development companies, whether they be building houses or wind turbines believe that area development plans should provide for the needs of its area or else the provision of adequate housing and essential infrastructure is at risk. These companies and the people responsible for providing the decision making framework i.e. the planners are therefore concerned that any changes are managed smoothly and effectively.

British Aviation and Wind Industry Contract Signed

A contract between the Department of Energy and Climate Change, The Crown Estate, NATS and the wind industry’s Aviation Investment Fund Company was signed this week.

The contract is aimed at solving the problem of aviation radar interference from wind turbines and includes financing worth £5.15 million towards a solution via new technology being developed by Raytheon.

According to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, ED Miliband, objections from the aviation industry are one of the key reasons UK wind energy applications are either being refused or withdrawn.

Its not your back yard, its OURS says Prescott

“Its not your back yard, its ours” Rt Hon John Prescott told anti- wind farm campaigners in his keynote address to the British Wind Energy Association conference today.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) opened its 31st annual conference and exhibition at Liverpool’s ACC this morning with the speech from the ex deputy PM.

Prescott launched into an attack on the UK planning system saying that it discourages the industry and communities from submitting planning applications.

“Three quarters of applications are refused and this is the highest it has ever been and it is getting worse” he said and went on to warn politicians that the system is threatening renewable energy targets.

Conservative Proposals for Onshore Wind Energy

The Conservatives have announced proposals that will make it more difficult for UK wind farms to be built on land if they win an election next year.

The Shadow Local Government Minister, Bob Neil visited East Riding Council last week to discuss the topic of wind farms in the district. Although the area is ideal for wind farms the Council is complaining that it is being put under too much pressure from wind farm proposals. The Council is struggling to justify its refusals when in front of a planning inspector at appeal, given the urgency to create a sustainable energy future.

Despite the region of Yorkshire and Humber not having reached its target for renewable energy the district of East Riding says it has done its fair share through accommodating several wind farms.

Government Appoints New Scientific Advisor

The UK government has appointed David MacKay Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

David MacKay is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University and recently published a book ‘Sustainable Energy – without the hot air’.

Secretary of State Ed Miliband said: “David MacKay is known for making science accessible and helping to explain clearly the urgency and the challenges of moving to a low carbon economy. I want him to bring all of these qualities to the job of advising DECC on how we can meet Britain’s carbon targets and energy security needs.”

Scotland on Road to Fighting Climate Change

Scotland has slashed its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a fifth since 1990, according to new figures published by the Scottish Government.

The figures show that emission levels stood at 56.9 million tonnes in 2007, but have been reduced 19% on 1990 levels. The carbon cuts are credited to greener energy production through increased use of renewable energy, business and industry, the public sector, waste management, international shipping, housing and agriculture. The bad news is that emissions from international aviation and shipping have increased.

Power generation accounted for 36% of emissions, 22% from transport, 14% from agriculture and 13% from business and domestic fossil fuel use. The Scottish Government has committed to a 42% reduction in carbon emissions from 1990 levels, by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Pressure Ramps Up for Global Carbon Caps

The pressure has been stepped up to persuade rapidly expanding economies such as China and India to incorporate climate change committments into their future growth plans.

Developed countries want countries world-wide to agree caps on greenhouse gas emissions and have been making the demands through the United Nations talks on climate change in the lead up to the conference to be held in Copenhagen in December.

The Chairman of the World Bank Commission for Growth and Development has however warned that both the climate and the global economy are threatened if the developed world tries to force countries with growing economies to restrict carbon emissions.

Oxford Proposes City Wind Turbine

A recent wind turbine proposal for the city of Oxford has sparked up the debate about where it is appropriate to locate wind turbines.

The proposal between Cowley works and Horsepath was announced last week by Oxford City Council and renewable energy developer Partnership for Renewables.

Oxford City Council say the site is capable of hosting a single commercial wind turbine. Local Councillor John Tanner said: “Wind turbines are a beautiful way of helping to tackle climate change with renewable energy. This Horspath site is a first for Oxford and a practical contribution to creating a low carbon city.

Energy Savings Trust Seeking Green Community Heroes

The Energy Savings Trust is seeking the UK’s Green Community Heroes this year to celebrate the UK’s most inspiring green community projects.

The green awards are aimed at saluting those individuals and groups who have strived to combat climate change by reducing thier community’s energy or by generating clean energy for their community.

The Energy Savings Trust is offering national recognition with a feature in Society Guardian. It says this will help the community with future promotion and bid requests. The categories include Best Rural Community Project, Best Urban Community Project, Most Innovative Project and Outstanding Contribution by An Individual. From street by street home insulation projects to community wind turbines and education about climate change, the Energy Savings Trust want to hear about it.

Conservatives Confirm Stance on Large Infrastructure Projects

Shadow energy minister Charles Hendry MP has today confirmed the Conservative’s stance on proposals for the new Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC).

Hendry wrote to the Department of Climate Change stating that the main concern arising from the current planning system is the inherent delay which has provided no certainty or guaranteed timeframe in which applications are decided. “Whilst we are wholly supportive of the principle of speeding up the process, we remain concerned that the IPC offers no recourse to the public to express their views given that decisions are made by an unelected quango” he said.

Paxman’s Brother Says No Wind Turbines in My Back Yard

Jeremy Paxman’s brother has spoken out against a wind farm proposal in his Dartmoor back yard today, saying the wind turbines would “stick out like a sore thumb”.

At a public inquiry held in Okehampton, Devon, James Paxman said “It is my personal opinion that wind turbines are one of the least reliable and least cost-effective modes of electricity generation”. The brother of climate change sceptic TV celebrity Jeremy Paxman also said he believes government subsidies are wrongly focussed towards wind turbines – despite marine and offshore wind energy recieving higher financial credits per megawatt hour of generated renewable energy.

Wind Turbine Company Court Hearing Adjourned

A wind turbine company whose staff are currently illegally occupying a factory failed to secure permission to remove the workers today.

Between 13 and 25 workers are involved in the demonstration at the Vestas factory on the Isle of White which is now into its 9th day. The protest is against the closure of the factory by Danish company Vestas who blame low demand for wind turbines in the UK.

Today, the Danish wind turbine manufacturer’s lawyers sought a possession order from Newport County Court to allow them to appoint bailiffs to remove the workers. However because the proper notices had not been served against the 25 occupiers, the hearing has now been adjourned until Tuesday 4 August. The lawyer acting for Vestas admitted that the company had not served individual notices on those who had locked themselves inside the factory. A crowd of 200 attended the court hearing in support of the protestors.

£1 Billion Loans for UK Wind Energy Projects

The UK Government today announced plans to allocate £1 bn (US $1.6) of loans to wind energy companies through part – state owned banks.
After announcing that offshore wind energy would recieve double the financial incentives in the budget earlier this year, the Government has stepped in again to help smooth the path for struggling [...]

UK Government Launches New Renewable Energy Strategy

The UK government today published the eagerly awaited Renewable Energy Strategy. The new strategy lays out plans to meet the UK target of producing 15% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Renewables, nuclear and clean fossil fuels are the trinity of low carbon and the future of energy in Britain. Under our plans we will get 40% of our electricity from low carbon energy by 2020 and more in the years afterwards.

“Our plan will strengthen our energy security, it seeks to be fair to the most vulnerable, it seizes industrial opportunity and it rises to the moral challenge of climate change.

“In five months, the world must come together at Copenhagen and follow through on the commitment of world leaders last week to stop dangerous climate change. Today we have shown how Britain will play its part.” We need to all-but eliminate carbon from electricity by 2050“.