Search: go

Planning for Wind Energy in Northern Ireland

A FREE One Day Planning Conference for Northern Ireland
Supported by Government and Industry
Wednesday 1 June 200
Radisson SAS Roe Park Hotel, Limavady, Co Londonderry
Plus a site visit to Altahullion Wind Farm

Programme & Presentations

Session I: Government Policy for Renewable Energy and Planning

Keynote Speaker – Tom Clarke, Acting Director Of Policy & Plans, Northern Ireland Planning Service

Tom Clarke summarised the evolution of sustainable development strategy in the UK and its influence on government policy making. He touched upon the importance of climate change and renewable energy to the sustainability agenda and the role of the Northern Ireland Planning Service in facilitating and regulating wind energy projects.

A New Industry for Britain, A New industry for Northern Ireland: Government Policy and Commitment to Renewable Energy (no presentation available)
Jenny Pyper, Director of Energy Division, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

This presentation introduced the UK-wide Energy White Paper published in February 2003, the most positive statement on renewable energy by a UK Government. Jenny set out the NI Government's ambitious plans to mainstream renewables in NI and placed this in context of the increased importance of security of supply, diversification in the rural community, waste management and fuel poverty.

Northern Ireland Planning Policy and Renewable Energy
Jim Thompson, Northern Ireland Planning Service

Jim explained the sort of information the Planning Service requires and the procedure it follows in dealing with applications for wind farms. He also set out the diverse range of issues which can be material in the determination of wind farm proposals and gave a Planning Service perspective on some of the pro’s and cons of determining such applications.

Session II: A Range of Perspectives

Renewable Energy Planning Policy in England
Graham Wrigglesworth, Bond Pearce Planning Lawyers

Bond Pearce is a planning lawyer firm with extensive experience in dealing with wind farm inquiries, and therefore well versed in national planning policies across the UK. Graham introduced the most recent national planning policy in the UK, that being PPS22 which came in to force in England last year. He investigated the benefits of this new policy statement and offered some analysis of the various national planning policies for renewable energy in the UK.

Public Attitudes and Awareness
Dr. Andy McCrea, Director, Action Renewables

Raising public awareness of the importance of renewable energy is one of the key aims of Action Renewables. Andy discussed research findings into the attitudes of the NI general public in respect of renewables, energy and climate change.

Climate Change and the need for renewables (no presentation available)
John Woods, Friends of the Earth

John reminded us all why we are investing in renewable energy in Northern Ireland, the UK and throughout the world. He looked at the scientific reality of global warming and its predicted effects on the environment from a global to a local perspective.

Session III: Why Wind? Understanding the Facts, Myths and Development Considerations

Landscape Constraints and Considerations
Simon Myers, Senior Landscape Consultant, Enviros

Simon is an expert consultant on landscape issues and has experience of wind farm applications in Northern Ireland. He described and explained the landscape considerations for site design, layout and location. Simon also highlighted the models and methods available for measuring landscape effects, which form a key part of all Environmental Impact Assessments. Finally, he covered the issue of cumulative landscape effect.

Birds & Wildlife Considerations
Tim Norman, Technical Director, RPS plc

Tim's presentation outlined the consioderations which are taken into account to avoid adverse impacts on birds and wildlife. He also introduced mitigation options that can be employed.

The Industry Perspective EIA and site selection
Kevin Hegarty, Development Manager, Airtricity

Kevin made the first presentation from a developer perspective. He explored a whole range of issues which are taken into account in the the EIA process. Kevin also introduced many of the other complex constraints and considerations in the wind farm development process.

Introduction to wind farm visit
Lucy Ford-Hutchinson, Development Manager, B9 Energy

Lucy outlined the process which led to the site selection, planning approval and construction of the Altahullion wind farm site and made special mention of the community and stakeholder consultation process and community benefits.

Visit to Altahullion Wind Farm - see (and hear!) for yourself
Hosted by Renewable Energy Systems and B9Energy, project owners and operators

Altahullion wind farm has an installed capacity of 26MW and comprises 20 turbines, making it the largest onshore wind farm in Northern Ireland. Construction of the wind farm commenced in November 2002 and the project was commissioned in May 2003. The site consists of the 20 x 1.3 MW wind turbines, site tracks, a sub-station and a meteorological mast.

Each year Altahullion Wind Farm will produce enough electricity for approximately 20,000 homes. By producing electricity without pollution, the wind farm will help Northern Ireland play its part in reducing greenhouse gases and the risk of climate change.