Policy News

Monday 09 November 2009

Ed Miliband launched the six National Policy Statements in Parliament today

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has today (November 9 2009) launched six draft National Policy Statements and announced a new framework for carbon capture and storage technology.

The draft statements are part of reforms to remove unnecessary planning delays facing large energy proposals and will be the basis on which individual planning decisions are made from next March by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) (See this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

Mr Miliband claimed that in order to meet the low carbon energy challenge, one third of larger future generating capacity must be consented and built over the next 15 years to 2025, meaning a more streamlined planning systems is needed.

He said: "The threat of climate change means we need to make a transition from a system that relies heavily on high carbon fossil fuels, to a radically different system that includes nuclear, renewable and clean coal power.

"The current planning system is a barrier to this shift. It serves neither the interests of energy security, the interests of low carbon transition, nor the interests of people living in areas where infrastructure may be built, for the planning process to take years to come to a decision.

"That is why we are undertaking fundamental reform of the planning system which will result in a more efficient, transparent and accessible process."

The new planning system will see decision times for proposals larger than 50MW - or 100MW for offshore wind - reduced to one year.

Additional need

Mr Miliband added that: "There will be a need for additional new non-renewable power. Saying no everywhere to coal, carbon and nuclear is not right."

The Renewable Energy Generation NPS states that: "In England the IPC will decide all relevant applications; offshore projects in Welsh territorial waters (out to 12 nautical miles) can be determined by Welsh ministers, if applicants apply to them.

"In reaching a decision, the relevant renewable energy guidance and targets in regional spatial strategies (England) and planning policy and advice (Wales) should be taken into account, however the NPS notes that compliance is not itself a reason for approval/refusal.

"The IPC is required to be flexible in relation to scheme details and where these are not known, should assess the maximum impact. The NPS sets out some specific technology criteria for the IPC to consider, including: Climate Change Adaption and good design principles."

Specific guidelines

Planning Aid, the advisory body funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, will issue advice for specific technology including:

• Biomass - biomass and waste which would otherwise go to landfill can be used to generate energy through combustion. Transport movements will be high and good connection required;
• Onshore wind - IPC is advised to limit consent to 25 years and require removal thereafter. Key considerations will include proximity of dwellings, connection to the electricity network and access and impacts on Green Belts;
• Offshore wind - many offshore wind farms will be some distance from the coast resulting in significant onshore infrastructure being needed to bring electricity onshore.

Alongside the NPSs, a new framework for CCS technology was introduced, outlining that any new coal power station built today will need to fit CCS on at least 300MW of their total capacity.

It also set out a new CCS financial support mechanism, named the CCS incentive, which places a levy on electricity suppliers to help fund up to four commercial-scale CCS demonstrations on coal power stations.

Ofgem will take on the role of managing agent for delivery of the CCS incentive.