LAW
WIND FARMS
INFORMATION FOR LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS
BY 2020 ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE UK’S ELECTRICITY MUST BE GENERATED FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.
SPECIALIST ADVICE LONG TERM COMMITMENT
The typical life cycle of an on-shore wind farm project is lengthy; they usually have a life span of around 35 years, which can be divided into five phases:
THE RENEWABLES OBLIGATION
The availability of subsidies under the Renewables Obligation has continued to interest landowners and developers in the possibility of land diversification into small and medium scale wind farm uses.
You will have seen the press reports of the “cold calling” by wind farm developers and may yourself have been contacted in person, or by letter, with a proposal for a wind farm scheme on your land. These unsolicited approaches can be set in the context of the UK’s commitment to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and the system of green energy subsidies, which makes onshore wind projects a lucrative proposal for developers.
BEWARE
You need to be careful in dealing with these approaches - scare stories continue of landowners who are contacted and coaxed into signing up to agreements with developers as soon as initial contact has been made.
1 Site investigation – a developer will carry out a detailed technical and environmental assessment to ascertain whether the land will support a viable wind farm.
2 Obtaining planning permission.
3 Construction – the period during which the wind farm and any associated infrastructure (access roads and grid connections) are built.
4 Operation – the period in which the wind farm is operational and electricity is generated.
5 Decommissioning – at the end of the lease the developer may be expected to remove turbines and reinstate the land to a flat and level condition.
The operational period will usually last between 25 and 30 years and the developer may be entitled to renew at the end of this period.
Commitments therefore on both sides are long term.
Before any proposal can be progressed you need to be certain that it documents the best possible terms which could be obtained out in the market. Only a specialist agent will be able to advise you of this.
On-shore wind farms are usually placed on agricultural land. The two uses are particularly compatible because farming can be allowed up to the turbine bases thus minimising the area required to create the wind farm and presenting a low impact opportunity for diversification. Wind farms also require minimal on site supervision other than maintenance.
ACCESS, PLANNING AND DESIGN
Even a small wind farm comprising only two or three turbines will require the installation of electricity sub-stations, a switch gear base, an anemometry equipment, new conducting media and usually new access roads, in addition to temporary access roads used during construction. The access roads must be able to support large vehicles. Landscaping and other works may also be necessary as a condition of planning consent.
Further areas may also have to be removed from agricultural use during the construction phase. These areas will require reinstatement.
Most developers will be willing to discuss the layout and design of a wind farm.
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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