Ireland’s Energy Minister Alex White has published a draft framework for consultation outlining a process to identify potentially suitable land areas for the large-scale generation of onshore renewable electricity.
Following the consultation process, the framework will be finalised to provide guidance to citizens, industry, An Bord Pleanala, and other public authorities, for use in conjunction with the Planning Guidelines on Wind Energy Development and other more general planning guidance.
The draft broadly identifies potential suitable areas, including land owned by state companies, where large-scale renewable electricity projects can be developed in a sustainable way.
The existing system for planning permission applications to local authorities or An Bord Pleanála will remain unchanged, and renewable electricity projects will still require planning permission, including environmental impact assessments where appropriate.
Written submissions and observations on the framework are now being sought from interested parties, including individuals and organisations.
White (pictured) said this publication fulfilled a commitment set out in the Energy White Paper, which he published last month.
He said: “Irish and EU energy policy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 80% and 95% by 2050.
“That means we cannot simply look to the 2020 targets, challenging as they are.
“We need to plan for likely new 2030 targets and beyond, and that requires us to identify land areas that are appropriate for the location of necessary renewable energy infrastructure.”
Image: Irish Labour Party
Ireland ponders onshore sites
Draft issued for consultation outlining process for identifying suitable land
By EBS