Policy News

Wednesday 12 August 2009

A new policy statement outlining Northern Ireland's plans to encourage the development of renewable energy projects in the country has been published by environment minister Edwin Poots.

The document unveiled yesterday (August 11), entitled Planning Policy Statement 18 (PPS18), explains Northern Ireland's attempts to develop renewable energy projects at "suitable locations" throughout the country.

The statement sets out the main considerations that the Department of Environment (DOE) will take into account in assessing proposals for renewable energy and heat generating facilities

Mr Poots said: "Renewable energy development will not only help the environment - it can provide significant opportunities for local firms to use their extensive skills and knowledge base to develop a local renewable energy industry.

"By creating jobs, the increased use of renewable energy provides opportunities for rural diversification and for the alternative use of agricultural land in the production of renewable energy crops," he added.

The DOE had originally announced plans for the policy statement in June and said it would focus on tackling issues such as public concerns about wind farm developments (see this newenergyfocus.com story).

In Northern Ireland, the DOE is responsible for planning control and is statutorily bound to create consistent development of land across the country. Planning applications are then determined by the Planning Service, which is an agency within the Department.

Impact

The policy statement explains that planning applications for developments that generate energy from renewable resources will be permitted provided the proposal, and any associated buildings and infrastructure, will not result in an unacceptable adverse impact on:

a) public safety, human health, or residential amenity
b) visual amenity and landscape character;
c) biodiversity, nature conservation or built heritage interests;
d) local natural resources, such as air quality or water quality; and
e) public access to the countryside.

The document states: "Increased development of renewable energy resources is vital to facilitating the delivery of international and national commitments on both greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy. It will also assist in greater diversity and security of energy supply."

"The Department will therefore support renewable energy proposals unless they would have unacceptable adverse effects which are not outweighed by the local and wider environmental, economic and social benefits of the development," it continues.

The new statement supersedes the existing Policy PSU 12 ‘Renewable Energy' of the Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland but it does not apply to offshore renewable energy developments, as these are not subject to control under the land use planning system.

Best Practice

Publication of the PPS-18 was coupled with best practice guidance designed to be used in the development of planning applications for renewable energy projects.

The guidance identifies the key renewable energy technologies likely to be developed in the country, as well as the relevant planning issues for each of these technologies.

The 93-page guidance focuses on: Wind; biomass; energy-from-waste (biological); energy-from-waste (thermal); small hydro; active solar (photovoltaic); solar thermal (solar water heating); ground, water and air-source heat pumps; and, passive solar design.

Bioenergy

And, the DOE also this week (August 10) announced a consultation on a Bioenergy Action Plan as part of its long term plan to help ensure energy security in the country. Consultation on the draft Bioenergy Action Plan is set to run to October 30 and sets out Northern Ireland's aims and understandings of the bioenergy sector.

Energy minister Arlene Foster said: "I have just launched the draft cross Departmental Bioenergy Action Plan for consultation. It offers a coordinated approach for the sustainable development of bioenergy to contribute towards achieving more secure energy supplies, reduced carbon emissions and increased business and employment opportunities."