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News
Onshore wind in Wales
Powering one in five Welsh households by 2010
Monday 27 March 2006
By 2010, across the UK as a whole, the onshore wind industry could generate 50 per cent more electricity than previously predicted, expecting to install 6,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity, generating almost 5 per cent of UK electricity supply, avoiding up to 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and delivering nearly half of the Government’s 2010 renewable energy target, according to a report published by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) today (27 March 2006).
Onshore Wind: Powering Ahead, part of BWEA’s contribution to the Government’s Energy Review consultation, claims to be the most comprehensive and realistic assessment ever undertaken of the UK’s onshore wind industry.
The findings show that Wales could contribute 8 per cent of the UK total forecast by 2010, with 505 MW of onshore wind energy generating electricity equivalent to annual needs of 280,000 homes – or one in five Welsh homes.
The Wales forecast of 505 MW of onshore wind would generate an average 1.3 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity – one third of the Welsh Assembly target for renewables by 2010 – and result in investment of around £277 million by 2020 in construction and infrastructure works, in addition to funds for communities and landowners, a significant proportion of which is expected to benefit the Welsh economy.
BWEA’s report has identified an additional 220 MW which could be delivered by 2010 from the TAN8 Strategic Search Areas recently identified for wind energy developments by the Welsh Assembly. This would increase onshore wind’s contribution to 1.9 TWh, almost half of the Welsh Assembly’s target.
However, prompt joined up action from the Welsh Assembly Government and local planning authorities is needed to realise this additional capacity. BWEA is urging the Welsh Assembly to encourage a positive and robust approach to local planning policy and to address delays in making planning decisions which are currently averaging 27 months.
Chris Tomlinson, BWEA’s Head of Onshore, said: “Onshore wind can play a hugely significant role in meeting renewable energy and climate change targets. Our research proves, very clearly, that onshore wind will deliver, bringing major benefits to the economy and the environment while securing our energy supplies.
“This report clearly shows that Wales could easily meet a third of its renewable energy target by 2010 from onshore wind alone, and this could be increased to one half of the country’s target. To make this a reality, urgent action is required to ensure a robust and effective planning system and supporting grid infrastructure.”
BWEA’s report goes on to say that producing electricity from 505 MW of onshore wind in Wales would:
- displace just under half a million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and avoid one million tonnes of CO2 emissions
or
- displace 242 million cubic metres of gas, reducing imports and avoiding over half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Read the Executive Summary ( 1MB)
Read the Full Report (2MB)
Notes to editors:
About the report:
- The report looks at how much wind energy is confirmed by 2010, from projects already operational, under construction or approved.
- Using its database (www.bwea.com/ukwed) and interviews with its members, BWEA then assessed how many megawatts are awaiting local authority planning approval (smaller farms of less than 50 MW) and how many are awaiting Section 36 approval (larger developments of more than 50 MW), and also assessed applications the industry expects to make over the next few years.
- BWEA then applied conservative forecasts based on how long it takes to get approval and what percentage of projects are likely to be approved. Approval times currently range from 10 months in England up to 28 months in Northern Ireland. So far large Section 36 applications have enjoyed high approval rates, but BWEA uses a model based on 30 per cent, 50 per cent and 70 per cent approval rates.
About wind energy in Wales:
- There are already 23 onshore wind farms totalling 255 MW generating in Wales, representing 20 per cent of the UK’s current onshore wind power portfolio. (1 offshore project, North Hoyle off the coast of Prestatyn contributes a further 60 MW).
- A further two wind farms totalling 46 MW are under construction and scheduled for completion in 2006: 17 turbines at Mynydd Clogau in Powys, mid-Wales and 16 turbines at Ffynnon Oer, near Port Talbot in South Wales.
- New wind farms identified for completion by 2010 will bring Wales’ total to 505 MW –8 per cent of the UK’s total forecast build by 2010. An additional 221 MW is potentially available from the TAN8 Strategic Search Areas, bringing the total to 726 MW.
- 505 MW of onshore wind will generate 1.3 terawatt hours (TWh) in an average year – equivalent to the annual electricity needs of over 280,000 households, or 23 per cent of homes in Wales.
- Economic benefits accruing from wind energy development in Wales by 2020 include £31.9 million in landowner income and £10.6 million in payments to local communities.
- The Welsh Assembly has put in place a target of 4 TWh of renewable generation by 2010, rising to 7 TWh by 2020. TAN8 specifies an additional 800 MW of onshore wind and 200 MW of offshore wind in Wales by 2010, as part of the 4 TWh target.
- TAN8, Technical Advice Note 8 – Renewable Energy Planning Policy Guidance for Wales, was published by the Welsh Assembly Government in July 2005, replacing TAN8 Renewable Energy 1996. TAN8 provides technical advice to supplement policy set out in Planning Policy Wales (PPW); available to download from www.wales.gov.uk/subiplanning/content/tans/tan08/newtan8/tan8-e.htm
About BWEA:
- The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries.
- Formed in 1978, and with over 310 corporate members, BWEA is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK.
- In 2004, BWEA expanded its mission to champion wave and tidal energy and use the Association's experience to guide these technologies along the same path to commercialisation.
- BWEA’s primary purpose is to champion the UK wind and marine renewables industry.
About UK Government targets:
- Reduce the UK's CO2 emissions by 20 per cent from a 1990 baseline by the year 2010.
- Put the UK on a path to reduce CO2 emissions by some 60 per cent by 2050, with real progress by 2020’, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (The Energy White Paper 2003).
- As part of the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has also agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
- Reduce greenhouse gases by 15-30 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels as proposed by the European Union.
- Produce 10 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2010 rising to 15 per cent by 2015, with an aspiration of 20 per cent by 2020.
The UK Government launched its Energy Review consultation on 23rd January 2006. The 12 week consultation sets out the UK's energy challenges and considers all aspects of our energy system including both energy supply and demand. The consultation document "Our Energy Challenge: securing clean, affordable energy for the long term" is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/
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