1. Land use and renewable energy
Neil Walker
IPI Autumn Conference, October 2013

2. Four interrelated themes
Complementary uses for land
Plan-led versus developer-led approaches
Social licences to operate
Government leadership

3. Competing energy-uses for land?
Dedicated energy crops
Agricultural production not to be compromised by biofuels
Hence need to maximise the use of otherwise unproductive land
Onshore wind-farms
Wind-farms need not disrupt existing farm activity but it’s preferable to locate them away from rural populations
Hence the desirability of exploiting marginal land
Cut-away peat bogs – a ‘win win’
thousands of hectares of currently-inaccessible land with a combined energy and amenity potential

4. Multiple policy objectives
Reducing our electricity carbon-intensity
Meeting EU targets for % renewable energy
Improving energy security and affordability
Promoting growth of the Irish green economy
Conserving heritage and endangered habitats
Involving communities in decision-making

5. Mixed quality of wind projects
An unintended consequence of well-intentioned policy on renewables?
DCENR’s renewable energy feed-in tariffs – REFITs - provide an investment signal to potential developers
EirGrid’s ‘Gate’ process for Grid connection offers is effectively first-come first-served
consequently, negotiations with landowners often preceded EIA studies, planning applications and engagement with affected communities
A substantial proportion of these projects will probably never get planning approval – whether for environmental or social reasons

6. Potential for wind energy sales to Britain is enormous
Some commentators are comparing it to the size of Ireland’s highly successful
Agri-Food sector…
but if it is seen as developer led, there is no guarantee of achieving the full potential

7. Recent media coverage
“WIND ENERGY PROJECT CAN ONLY PROCEED IN COMPLIANCE WITH A NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK”
“Minister Rabbitte deplores misinformation and misrepresentation of export project”

8. Room for a more plan-led approach?
Greater consistency across local authorities in application of SEAI’s LARES principles
Likewise, the soon-to-be-updated DECLG Wind Energy Planning Guidelines
More structured community engagement from earliest stages of a project, with an emphasis on securing a ‘social licence’
Aligned with findings of the forthcoming Strategic Environmental Assessment

9. Show me the money!
Projects involving transfer of renewable credits to other Member States may need to demonstrate a visible country-wide benefit in addition to local benefits
Perhaps ring-fence some inter-Governmental contract revenues to help maintain our energy affordability?

10. But will this be enough to secure a ‘social licence to operate’?
Rejection
Tolerance
Support
Some environmental NGOs appear willing to raise objections simply as a matter of principle

11. Facing up to NIMBY-ism?
The Government recently issued a document that acknowledges Grid infrastructure to be of strategic national importance
Grid projects are generally subject to the SIA Directive, so planning applications are made directly to An Bord Pleanala
Alongside active engagement with communities
But local protest groups have sprung up all over the place, and have sometimes been publicly supported by constituency TDs across different parties
Including - in one recent case - a Cabinet Minister!

12. Could the Government do more to help?

13. International Energy Agency (2012)
“Enhance the consultation, planning and consenting process for critical infrastructure projects with an emphasis on balancing between the concerns of local communities and economic, social and energy security benefits”
“Irish Government needs to enhance public awareness of the fundamental benefits”
“A more integrated approach by project developers to early engagement and consultation will ensure a more balanced public debate and more timely delivery”
“Government should also review the effectiveness of the consultation processes at local level as well as the Strategic Infrastructure Act in delivering the desired outcomes”

14. Political leadership