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Stronger Wind for Renewables in Wales

New impetus to achieve wind energy targets

Wednesday 10th May 2006

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has reinforced its efforts to help ensure that the Welsh Assembly Government achieve their adopted renewable energy targets for 2010 and 2020.

BWEA has established a Wales Steering Committee made up of twenty dedicated member companies with the aim of helping to deliver the Welsh Assembly Government's renewable energy targets. To complement this renewed determination, a new full time Wales Wind Officer has been appointed to lead the Committee's efforts and to make certain that everyone works closely together in achieving sustainable energy solutions.

Llywelyn Rhys who has been appointed as the new Wales Wind Officer believes that the Welsh Assembly Government is right to emphasize the benefits of wind power in reducing our effects on climate change and securing the future of our energy supplies:

"The advantages of wind power are substantial compared with other conventional energy sources. As we continue to see the evidence of climate change and its devastating effects, we can be sure that wind is a clean, indigenous and a free energy resource that produces no green house gas emissions and can lead the way to a sustainable energy future."

Citing the Welsh Assembly Government's own targets he commented:

"The Welsh Assembly Government has taken a decisive step to tackle climate change and deliver a secure energy future by setting targets for 10% of Welsh electricity generation to come from renewable sources by 2010 and nearly double that by 2020. The Assembly realise that the majority of this must be derived from onshore wind energy generation, as the most advanced renewable technology ready and able to deliver on a large scale, and they have adopted clear national planning guidance to ensure progress. It is now up to the Assembly, the wind industry, local planning authorities and stakeholders to work together to make the targets a reality and ensure Wales can reap the associated economic benefits."

The BWEA Wales Steering Committee's primary concern is that the spirit of the planning guidance established by the Assembly Government is being diluted as local planning authorities introduce further guidance that could prove overly restrictive for large scale wind farm developments and thus threaten the targets being met.

Technical Advise Notice 8 (TAN8) published last year sets out a strategic approach to wind energy development, identifying 7 key areas for large-scale wind farms. This was supported by BWEA as a useful kick-start to meeting the onshore wind target despite industry concerns that there are a number of technical constraints which would render significant parts of these areas unviable for development. The industry's concerns have been intensified by the local planning authority's attempts to reduce the size of the preferred areas for wind farm development, which the industry fears will leave insufficient flexibility to allow sufficient developments to come forward to meet the stated targets.

Matt Partridge, Chair of the Wales Steering Committee elaborated on these concerns:

"The wind energy community is very keen to work with local authorities to help deliver the Welsh Assembly Government's targets for increased clean energy generation. In order to achieve the targets it is important that emerging Supplementary Planning Guidance provides the necessary flexibility to deliver high quality wind farms that address legitimate environmental and technical constraints. The rewards, for everyone, of a thriving Welsh wind energy industry are vast; a cleaner environment, reduced reliance on energy imports and sustainable, rural development."

BWEA has appealed to Carwyn Jones, the Minister responsible for planning issues in Wales, to intervene to ensure that legitimate industry concerns are addressed. The BWEA Wales Steering Committee is seeking a meeting with Mr. Jones and his advisors.

For further information, contact Llywelyn Rhys on llywelyn@bwea.com or 07875 434 049.

Notes to editors:

About targets and planning guidance in Wales:

  • 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 a target of an additional 800 MW of onshore wind and 200 MW of offshore wind in Wales by 2010, to help meet the 4 TWh target
  • TAN8 identified 7 Strategic Search Areas where large scale wind energy development could be concentrated. The TAN only allowed 'minor modifications' to the proposed boundaries
  • All the local authorities which had a SSA identified in its area employed the same consultant company Arup to make a study; their recommendations include major boundary reductions for key areas
  • 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); www.wales.gov.uk/subiplanning/content/tans/tan08/newtan8/tan8-e.htm

About wind energy in Wales:

  • There are already 24 onshore wind farms totalling 269 MW generating in Wales, representing 20% of the UK's current onshore wind power portfolio. 1 offshore project, North Hoyle off the coast of Prestatyn contributes a further 60 MW
  • 32 MW from 16 turbines at Ffynnon Oer, near Port Talbot in South Wales, are under construction and scheduled for completion in 2006
  • New wind farms identified for completion by 2010 will bring Wales' total to 505 MW – 8% 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 TWh in an average year – equivalent to the annual electricity needs of over 280,000 households, or 23% of homes in Wales
  • Economic benefits accruing from 505 MW of onshore wind energy development in Wales by 2020 include £31.9 million in landowner income and £10.6 million in payments to local communities

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.