Wind News

Tuesday 09 March 2010

Lincolnshire county council has approved new planning criteria for placing wind turbines in the county

New policies approved for placing wind turbines in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire county council's environmental scrutiny committee last week (March 5) approved its planning committee's proposals that all future developments for onshore wind energy should take set criteria into account.

The criteria includes assessments of their visual, historic and natural environment impacts, along with residential amenities and related infrastructure. Councillor Colin Davie, chairman of the environmental scrutiny committee, claimed that the council supports renewable energy in principle, but noted that a common approach to analysis, assessment and policy was needed to protect the area's open skies and landscape.

He said: "Over the last 10 years Lincolnshire has seen considerable interest from wind turbine electricity generating companies in the construction of wind farms within the county and offshore. In Lincolnshire, the relatively flat landscape and big, open skies mean that the turbines are visually more dominant, individually and collectively. Because of the open nature of the majority of Lincolnshire's landscape, a consistent approach is therefore required to ensure that the cumulative effect of wind turbine developments and their impact on neighbouring authority areas are weighed against commonly agreed criteria."

Low Carbon Accelerator invests £500,000 into Vigor Renewables

Closed-ended investment company, Low Carbon Accelerator Limited (LCA), has invested £500,000 in Vigor Renewables Ltd, a new company formed to take advantage of UK Feed-in Tariffs.

Vigor aims to partner with land-owners, as well as commercial property owners and managers, to build, own and operate wind and solar power generating projects on sites across the UK. Each project will be designed and built to qualify for the recently announced UK Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) which come into effect at the beginning of April 2010. LCA was created to invest in a portfolio of fast-growing low carbon businesses.

Oliver Hughes, managing director of Vigor Renewables, said: "The Feed-in Tariff has created a wealth of opportunity for renewable energy developers in the UK. We're pleased that LCA, as a pioneer in clean-tech investment, has recognised this opportunity and the return potential for investors and for property and land-owners. We've seen a significant number of renewable energy opportunities across the UK. There's no reason why farmers and commercial property owners can't become small-scale power producers in their own right. We look forward to a highly productive partnership."

Over £18,000 awarded to community projects from wind farm fund

More than £18,000 has been given to 13 local voluntary and community organisations in Harrogate from the Knabs Ridge Wind Farm community fund, marking the first grants to have been made from the fund.

RWE npower renewables owns Knabs Ridge Wind Farm and funds the community benefits scheme which is run independently by the York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation. Grants have been made to a variety of projects including £670 to Hampsthwaite Bowling Club for mat handling equipment, £1,000 for a laptop computer and projector for Felliscliffe Young Farmers Club and £2,500 towards the upgrading of the kitchen at Norwood Social Hall. The sum remaining from this round of funding will be allocated in May, with the closing date for applications on March 31 2010. The annual fund is indexed-linked each year in line with inflation and is open to applications from projects and organisations benefiting the communities of Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Norwood, Menwith with Darley, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw and Fewston.

Katy Woodington, community investment officer at RWE npower renewables, said: "I am delighted to hear about these grants and how they will help local community groups. We worked with the community for a number of years during the development and construction of Knabs Ridge Wind Farm and as a good neighbour are pleased to continue our commitment to the community and support local groups near the site."

Solar Trade Association highlights issues with RHI

Following the announcement in early February of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story), the Solar Trade Association (STA) has claimed that solar thermal energy systems will be disadvantaged compared with other renewable heat solutions.

The RHI consultation document outlines that the reimbursement of capital costs for solar thermal heat solutions will be only 6% compared with 12% for other heat technologies. The STA believes this "disconnect" will mean that homeowners will be unable to make decisions about renewable energy technology based on effectiveness and appropriateness, but rather that cost will play an unfair role in deciding what is best for individuals. Chairman of the STA, Howard Johns and chief executive, David Matthews, are currently lobbying energy secretary Ed Miliband to redress the balance with respect to renewable technology.

Mr Johns said: "We believe that solar thermal systems are one of the most appropriate renewable technologies for homeowners, and could be extremely popular under the Pay as You Save Scheme. However, the fact that the RHI, due for release next year, clearly states solar thermal systems will be reimbursed at a rate 50% lower than other technologies means that renewable heat technologies are unable to complete on a level playing field. This approach, we feel, is detrimental to the uptake of renewable energy, prevents homeowners making an unbiased decision about renewables and can only be detrimental to our fight against climate change."