UK wind developer Eco2 has warned the Welsh government that its 70% renewables by 2030 target could be missed due to its National Development Framework (NDF) proposals.
The draft NDF published by Welsh ministers in August proposes 11 zones where there would be presumption in favour of development of 10MW-plus wind farms.
In addition, the NDF sets out a further four priority areas solely for solar development.
Eco2 chief executive David Williams said the NDF plans are “too close to TAN8” by giving “no regard to the suitability or availability of space in those areas”.
“(The NDF) repeats too many of the mistakes made in 2005 with TAN8 by trying to pen renewable energy developments into little corners of the country,” he added.
“This approach caused Wales to fall far short of its own renewable energy targets in the past. We shouldn’t make the same mistakes again.”
In its submission to the NDF consultation, the Cardiff developer proposed a single set of criteria for renewables development across Wales that can “minimise negative impacts without drawing arbitrary lines on a map”.
“That is the approach that has been successfully used in Scotland, which now has 8.1GW of installed onshore wind capacity, compared to only 1.2GW in Wales,” added Williams.
Eco2 meanwhile has endorsed a plan by the Institute for Welsh Affairs think tank for a more ambitious plan that would see 100% of electricity to come from renewables by 2035.
“We have urged the Welsh Government to commit to the complete decarbonisation of electricity by 2035, and accept that renewable energy generation is needed across Wales, not just in the remotest corners of the country,” said Williams.