Wind industry in Scotland(with thanks to SRF for this material)
INTRODUCTION
You would think with 25% of Europe's wind resources that Scotland would be a world leader in the development of wind power. It was once, in the 1980's, but the Government's failure to support it led to its demise. Concerns about climate change have given Scotland a second chance at renewables. Whilst we have the opportunity to develop world leading technologies in wave, tidal stream and deepwater offshore wind, without the successful deployment of mature technologies like wind and hydro now, the enormous economic opportunity that fledgling technologies offer will be lost.
Of course onshore wind leading the way for wave, tidal stream and deepwater offshore wind is not the only reason for the deployment of onshore wind power in Scotland. The development of this technology is helping Scotland make massive savings in carbon emissions and has provided an economic boost to Scotland's relatively young renewable energy sector.
A PERIOD OF GROWTH
Since the introduction of supportive planning policies for renewables in Scotland in 2001, the Scottish Executive targets for renewable electricity set in 2003, and the start of the Renewables Obligation in 2003 and growing commitments by the UK to help tackle climate change, strong signals have been delivered to the renewable electricity sector to start developing.
Many commentators have been surprised by the industry's enthusiastic response. By October 2007 there were 49 onshore wind projects operating in Scotland with an installed capacity of 1.3GW with around 75% large wind farms. There are 15 projects under construction with a combined installed capacity of 681MW and another 38 projects with a resolution to consent with a combined installed capacity of 1GW.
By 2010, Scotland care therefore expect 102 operating wind power projects with a combined installed capacity of 3GW. This level of deployment would provide, in an average weather year, around 15% of Scotland's electricity needs (discounting distribution and transmission losses and power for export) and displace around 3 million tonnes of carbon per year from existing coal fired power stations.
KNOCKING DOWN BARRIERS
When compared with other European countries, this level of success is not as good as one might think. Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy and others are ahead of Scotland. Why is this? Where other nations are capable of making determinations on wind farm proposals quickly, Scotland's chronically under-resourced planning system, and the army of statutory consultees needed to advice on large projects, does not a speedy system make.
Smaller wind-farm projects that go through the local planning system are taking around a year to be determined whilst larger projects submitted to the Scottish Executive take a little over two years, with one recently approved project taking more than five years.
The other major barrier to the growth of the onshore wind sector in Scotland is a grid network that requires investment so it can take new generation. This means that upgrades to existing transmission and distribution lines and investment in new lines have to be approved by Ofgem and the Scottish Executive if a large number of projects, not just onshore wind, are to be start producing green power.
The industry is resigned to a long wait on the Scottish Government's decision on the current Beauty to Denny upgrade proposal. Latest predictions suggest that a Scottish Minister will not make a decision until Spring 2009. If he or she gives their approval it will take another three years to complete the upgrade.
This means that the project will have been in the planning system for seven years before it can accept power. Even that may prove optimistic because the minister may demand changes that will require a further round of consultants and approvals. This does not auger well for future grid network investments.
A TIME TO PAUSE?
One opinion that was aired during the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections was that the rapid growth of onshore wind in Scotland meant that new technologies were being crowded out and therefore a pause or slowing down of deployment would be appropriate to allow a recalibration of policy.
Those putting forward this opinion pointed to the scale of current delivery and projects in the planning system. At present there are 69 projects with a combined installed capacity of 3.7GW submitted to planners and another 69 with a combined installed capacity of 2GW being prepared for submission.
This is a high level of interest but with 50 projects with a combined installed capacity of 1.5GW being withdrawn or refused permission to build, current approval rates are running around 50% (based on project numbers). This shows the process is capable of identifying good sites and, rather than pause the new planning policy for renewables in Scotland published before the election, it should be allowed to continue to deliver.
A significant scale of deployment of wave, tidal and deep water offshore wind is more than ten years away. To pause would undermine Scotland's contribution to tackling climate change at a time when every commentator is saying action is required now. Also, the developers ot tomorrow's wave and tidal stream projects are the same organisations developing wind power now. If these organisations consider Scotland riskier than other regions then the ease of moving capital around the globe means that they are likely to go elsewhere.
The new Scottish Executive must consider very carefully its policy on renewables - and especially onshore wind. If it creates uncertainty and instability the industry will suffer. If it provides sensible and a calm steering at the helm of an exciting industry then Scotland can fulfil its promise.
CONCLUSION
Scotland has the potential to be Europe's renewable energy powerhouse but Scotland's onshore wind sector must be at its heart in these early stages and provide a platform for growth of new technologies.
The connections between sectors are clear and so a successful onshore wind sector must be allowed to delivery good onshore wind projects quickly.
