BASE HEADER

Other

ID sylw: 108327

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: George Martin

Local schemes have a significant role. They are often faster to deliver, less impactful on the local environment, and support and create jobs in local communities by keeping energy bills lower. (Therefore, LAs have a really important role to play!)

I’m not sure the authors have seen beyond major wind farms and solar parks etc – there’s actually a lot they can do to support local district energy schemes, onsite generation in factories and business parks etc. The main problem can be planners who think this is the same class of planning problem as a nuclear power station or offshore wind farm, and approach the case with that mentality!

Agree mandating solar panels would reduce the need for large-scale renewable energy developments (though not negate it). This is especially true in Warwickshire, which has relatively poor renewable resources. Note that farms can also do a lot with Anaerobic digestion and small/mid scale (<1MW) wind turbines; industrial parks should all have their own (shared) energy centres etc.

Consider adding a requirement that applicants for large-scale schemes can demonstrate they have considered smaller-scale local options and included consultation on these as alternatives with local communities.

Energy storage can be used by industrial sites to hedge against volatile and typically very expensive UK electricity prices - not entirely clear this is covered by the 3 criteria, although maybe k cover this case (contributes to meeting renewable energy supply), but could be more explicit and linked to economic benefits for the customer.

Good to see criteria k - I would suggest some demonstrated consultation with the electricity network operator would be a good idea somewhere.

The Policy should define a 'wind farm' to highlight that these are different from rooftop wind turbines.

The statement that 'further technical work will be undertaken to establish the area's overall energy requirements and the specific sites for allocation for solar and wind energy" is very vague.