Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Welsh Assembly
Government's (WAG) new energy policy statement 'A Low Carbon
Revolution' is more idealistic than realistic, according to leading
wind energy developer, West Coast Energy. The Mold-based Company
feels that although the proposals are rightly ambitious, a little
more pragmatism is required for a realistic viable transition to a
low carbon economy for Wales.
The strategy, launched on
15th March by Minister for Environment Sustainability
and Housing Jane Davidson, sets out the WAG's ambitions for the
transition to a more sustainable economy for Wales. It focuses on a
three-tiered approach to maximise energy efficiency and proposes
electricity production via secure and indigenous renewable means
such as marine, wind, water and biomass.
Richard Fearnall, Development
Manager, West Coast Energy comments: "Whilst the policy statement
is welcomed and is rightly ambitious in some areas it is cautious
in others. Greater weight in delivering the proposed 48TWhr
of renewable energy per annum by 2025 should be given to
commercially viable, available and deliverable forms of generation,
rather than more costly, immature or high risk solutions. The total
potential capacity form each type of technology stated in the
document should not been seen as ceilings if Wales really wants to
lead the world in low carbon energy. The WAG needs to be
realistic not idealistic, producing as much renewable energy as
they can from each alternative technology
"I am also concerned that the
statement is vague where it needs to be precise. References are
made to the provision of increased support to resolve the issues
currently delaying the delivery of onshore wind projects, as well
as greater support for 'brownfield', 'community' 'localised'
and 'small-scale' generation through the planning process.
However, the document is rather short on detail as to how this will
be delivered.
"Reading between the lines, it
looks as though we are going to have to continue to work hard to
convince policy makers that onshore wind power is the most
available and deliverable option. It should be given appropriate
weighting in a proposal of this nature. There is too much emphasis
on untried, untested and potentially unrealistic technologies."
