Four Welsh onshore wind farm projects have been denied by the UK government amid concerns over their effect on local biodiversity, local traffic, landscape and visual impacts.
“Careful consideration has been given to each application, and the planning and energy issues involved,” a DECC spokesperson said in a statement.
The proposed Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llanbrynmair, and Carnedd Wen onshore wind farms, which would have a combined capacity of more than 350MW, were each refused, leaving only the Llandinam onshore wind repowering project with approval.
However the government has refused Scottish Power’s proposal for a 35km-long 132kV overhead power line from the Llandinam windfarm to the Welshpool substation, without which the project could face further issues.
Renewable energy company RES, which had hoped to deliver the 90MW Llanbrynmair wind farm, said it was a “sad day for wind energy in Wales”.
Mike Whitbread, RES development manager said:
“Wales has a clear need to develop a home-grown and secure source of renewable energy to replace dwindling fossil fuel supplies and onshore wind is the most cost-effective and reliable means of achieving this goal.
It is therefore very difficult to understand why such a well-designed project has been turned down. This is a sad day for wind energy in Wales and for local communities in Powys.”
It does seem mind-boggling but perhaps this is just another of the DECC’s ploys to stop wind farm development and promote fracking.
A worrying time to be taking such steps with EU carbon targets to hit.
David Clubb, director of RenewableUK Cymru, said the decisions would leave the government’s green credibility “in tatters” at December’s Paris Climate summit.
“Given the blows the UK government is raining down on the renewable energy sector on both consents and subsidies, ministers will be heading to the Paris climate discussions with their credibility in tatters.”
With the closure of the RO subsidies and CCL exemptions, it’s no wonder the government’s motives are being questioned.
The government argues the reductions in support are necessary in order to keep up with the falling costs of technology and increasing rates of deployment.
For more information on renewable energy, call Business Juice on 0800 051 5770.